KARACHI - Bearish activity continued at the stock market on Friday with thin volumes after blast at CID Headquarters in Karachi and world markets massive sell-off. Ahsan Mehanti said that fall in international oil prices, limited foreign interest and investors concerns over security situation in the city ahead of Eid holidays played a catalyst role in the negative activity, despite October CPI inflation at 15.3 percent YoY, recorded lower than expected, institutional interest in power sector on strong valuations and auto sector growth recorded at 11.5 per cent YoY. The Karachi Stock Exchanges benchmark 100-share index closed 0.29 percent, or 31.22 points, lower at 10,874.02. The KSE 30-index closed at 10,461.63 with a loss of 27.39 points. The KMI 30-index closed at 17,343.19 with a loss of 1.7.45 points. All shares index closed at 7564.19 with a loss of 19.44 points. Trading activity was minimal as compared to the last trading session as the ready market volume stood at 9.75 million as compared to last trading sessions 12.25 million. Future market volume, however, stood at 2.57million shares as compared to 3.04 million shares of the last trading session. Market capitalization stood over Rs. 2.972trillion. As many as 153 companies advanced, 189 declined and 19 remained unchanged. Highest volumes were witnessed in Lotte Pakistan PTA at 21.76 million, closed at Rs. 12.05 with a loss of Re. 0.34, followed by Jah. Sid. Co at 6.25 million, closed at Rs. 1.76 with a loss of Re. 0.41, and Hub Power at 5.92 million, closed at Rs. 34042 with a gain of Rs. 0.99 Ahsan Mehanti further said that the local participants could not ignore the palpitation caused due to horrifying blast; impact was seemingly louder than assumed, thereby keeping the local bourse in a lacklustre mode, consequently the volumes declined sharply. He added that prolonged stagnation and extremely low volumes with buyers tough to find on dips did invite panic sell-off, mainly by the day traders. Thus, forcing the benchmark into deep red zone. Low quantum activity in the index heavy weights, however, disallowed the index from reflecting the wider sentiment. He further said that snap rallies and high volatility in low priced and speculative stocks, besides pouring in some turnover kept the day traders active.