KARACHI: Buying for second grade of lint remained in high side during trading session at cotton market, traders said. Buying put general prices of all grades of lint in firm frame, traders at Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) said. KCA kept the spot rate intact at Rs 6,650 per maund in order to provide support to weak stakeholders of raw grade to ward off minimal price level, said floor brokers. During the trading session, potential buyers in Sindh and Punjab stations made deals on cautious note as grade issue was continued. They made one-month forward deals for better grades at around Rs 6,500 per maund to Rs 6,650 per maund, floor brokers said. Traders offered all grades of lint on bargaining rates at around Rs 6,050 per maund to Rs 6,675 per maund in order to capitalise maximum returns on their proceeds, floor brokers said. Mills and spinners remained cautious and only made deals according to their immediate need of lint on back of grade issue and in anticipation of decline in spot rate, they added. Secondary buyers in Sindh and Punjab stations made deals on competitive price at around Rs 6,325 per maund to Rs 6,425 per maund while private sector commercial exporters made deals for all grades in Punjab and Sindh stations at around Rs 5,975 per maund to Rs 6,250 per maund, traders said. The garment and spinning sector is facing dearth of better grades, that would put positive impact on prices besides its market valuation, said Shakeel Ahmad a fibre analyst. The weather in cotton growing belt in Punjab remained suitable for picking standing cottonseed. Due to grade issue in parts of Sindh and Punjab stations buyers made forward deals for all grades of lint at around Rs 6,350 per maund. More than 600 bales changed hands with more than 65 percent of Punjab’s share in trading. New York March 2017 Futures stood at around 74.61 cents per pound, May 2017 Futures at 75 cents per pound and Cotlook A index was hovering around 81 cents per pound.