August Review

The market ended August up just 280pts at 39809. During the month the index made an all time high of 40213. Average volumes during the month were 257mln shares, up 36pc  from July mainly because of an uptick in volumes of small cap stocks. Value traded was slightly lower than Julys average of Rs 12.3 at Rs 11.4bln. Banks, Refiners, Chemicals and E&Ps were the winners at the exchange this month. Chemicals saw some robust gains which belie the largely sideways movement of the exchange,  Akzo up 23pc, BERG up 52pc,  BUXL up 52pc, ICI up 12pc.

E&Ps edged higher with only POL putting in double digit frowth of 14pc. 

Cements came under pressure despite announcing expected EPS after major players declared expansion plans raising the spectre of oversupply.

Banks grew with better than expected results. UBL and NBP led the pack with double digit gains of 10 and 13pc.

Autos saw strong gains, ATLH, HCAR, GTYR and PSMC rising 15/15/27/23pc.

ATRL and BYCO rose by 11pc each. 

OTSU tied BUXL for the spot of top performer for the month with a whopping 52pc gain.

August saw the market slow down the pace of average monthly gains from may 2016 from 4.7pc to 3/4 of a percent. FIPI outflow of USD 20.3mln during august cast  a pall over the index. July brought an inflow of USD23mln. 

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