KARACHI: Cotton market remained in grip of demand for better grades of lint while mills and spinners consolidated their long positions by making deals in second grade of lint in plenty past trading week. On Saturday buyers bought all grades of lint while dealings in second grade of lint changed hands on premium price during trading at cotton market. The physical prices remained firm during trading session in Sindh and Punjab stations. The buyers made deals for second grade of lint at around Rs 6,575 per maund to Rs 6,600 per maund. Around 21,000 cotton bales changed hands during past week in a range of Rs 6,000 per maund to Rs 6,625 per maund in parts of Sindh and Punjab stations. Ex-gin price per maund cotton remained intact after upward trend at Rs 6,100 per maund. In Kerb market buyers and sellers remained entangled in price war on fine grades of lit. New York Cotton December Futures 2017 contract closed at around 70 cents per pound, and Cotlook A Index was hovering at 85 cents per pound. Published in Daily Times, September 24th 2017.