Karachi: Pakistani stocks ended higher, led by sharp gains in banking shares amid expectations of healthy financial results, and dealers predicted the market would remain steady in coming days.
The Karachi Stock Exchange's benchmark 100-share index ended 0.32 per cent, or 37.97 points, higher at 11,886.02. Volume was 99.78 million shares compared with 110 million shares traded on Tuesday.
"Most of the leading banks have been performing well in recent weeks and we expect investor interest in the sector to continue as banks are expected to report healthy full-year results next month," said Ashraf Zakaria, a dealer at brokers Ali Hussain Rajabali and Co.
Yesterday, Bank Alfalah, United Bank Ltd (UBL) and Allied Bank all closed at their upper locks, or 5 per cent higher.
