KARACHI: Trading at lint market remained lackluster as majority of stakeholders remained on sidelines on back of paucity of better grades of lint, fibre traders said. However grade-selective forward deals changed hands at some stations of Punjab. Market would become active after fortnight as ginneries would likely to receive seed cotton, floor brokers said. Buyers made deals on slightly higher price besides forward deals also changed hands for better and second grade of lint. The market buying-interest sentiments would push general prices in green zone while weak ginners to get some strength to capitalise on their dealings, traders said. The Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) kept the spot rate at Rs 7,400 per maund. Floor brokers said buyers would make deals for all grades besides deals for better and second grade of lint for blending purpose after resumption firm trading. Most of the deals changed hands at around Rs 6,975 per maund to Rs 7,300 per maund during the thin trading session. A senior trader, Ghulam Rabbani said leading buyers would consolidate their long positions and make deals for second grade on paying premium price for it. The shrinking fine lint put general price in firm zone and buyers were interested to make forward deals on slightly higher price at around Rs 7,525 per maund in Sindh and Punjab stations. The private sector commercial exporters also consolidated their long positions through buying from old stocks. According to KCA, 100 bales of southern Punjab changed hands at Rs 6,975 per maund, 100 bales of Hyderabad at Rs 6,950 per maund, 100 bales of upper Sindh at Rs 7,075 per maund and 100 bales of Bahawalpur at Rs 7,100 per maund. The ginners of Punjab offered cotton of all grades to the buyers around Rs 5,975 per maund to Rs 7,475 per maund while ginners of Sindh offered raw grade lint to the buyers around Rs 5,975 per maund, depending on thrash level. New York Cotton July Future 2018 contract closed at 84.06 cents per pound, October Futures 2018 contract at 84.15 cents per pound and Cotlook A Index was hovering at 92 cents per pound. Published in Daily Times, May 19th 2018.