KARACHI: Trading remained grade selective on back shrinking stocks however last day dull trading supported weak sellers to capitalize on their deals. Shrinking of fine and second grade lint besides dull activity at ginneries kept buying range-bound on last day past week. Forward deals in second grade kept market alive while leading buyers remained on sideline waiting for better grades and arrival of imports, traders at Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) said. The KCA spot rate remained intact and stayed at Rs 7,000 per maund while some deals changed hands at Sindh and Punjab stations. Fine grade would fetch better price at around Rs 7,275 per maund on higher demand after start of normal trading next week. Buyers at major stations in southern Punjab and upper Sindh are grade conscious while private sector commercial exporters still selective on deals. Production of lint remained suspended in major ginning units on power interruptions. Picking activities in cotton growing belts also remained dull. It is expected weak sellers and buyers would remain on sidelines in next trading sessions on financial crunch while sellers holding raw stuff would release their commodity on buyers’ asking price. During six dull trading sessions buyers made deals on back of fine shrinking stocks in Sindh and Punjab stations. The physical price of all grades is acceptable and dull demand for yarn and textile made ups put textile units moving slower. Buyers and sellers in Sindh and Punjab stations would likely entangle in price war and general buyers make deals for all grades on competitive price. New York March Futures 2018 closed at around 82.60 cents per pound, May 2018 at 82.12 percent and Cotlook A index was hovering around 89.10 cents per pound. Published in Daily Times, February 18th 2018.