KARACHI: Volumes traded remained low on selective buying at lint market due to shortage of better grades at Sindh and Punjab stations, while leading buyers consolidated their positions making some forward deals for all grades. The buyers made deals for better grades of lint on premium price. The selective demand for all grades in Punjab and Sindh stations kept sellers negotiating on price while Karachi Cotton Association kept the spot at Rs7,100 per maund to provide support to raw grade sellers for getting better prices. In Sindh, physical buying remained thin while forward deals for a month changed hands between mills and sellers at Rs6,850 per maund to Rs 6,950 per maund. The buyers made deals for all grades while ginning units produced second grade stuff amounting to more than 690 bales, out of 1,800 bales. Availability of better grade in some stations of Punjab and Sindh remained thin, however, it fetched better price at around Rs7.250 per maund to Rs7,300 per maund. Secondary buyers kept their eyes on all grades and physical trading volumes in raw grade of lint stood thin. Any upward revision in spot rate would provide better returns to growers withholding raw grades and this would also help boost overall prices. New York March 2018 Futures contract stood at around 84 cents per pound, May Futures 2018 contract at 84.20 cents per pound and Cotlook A Index was hovering around 89 cents per pound. Published in Daily Times, February 9th2018.