The trading on cotton market remained selective on grade issue while buyers with liquidity fortified their inventories amid firm physical prices. Buying for second grade of lint from old crop stocks also changed hands on premium price during trading session in Punjab and Sindh stations. Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) kept spot rate at Rs 7,650 per maund to support ginners withholding raw grades to capitalise on their proceeds above baseline prices. Physical prices were also moving firm as deals were matured above Rs 8,125 per maund for better and Rs 7,975 per maund for second grade lint. “The shrinking stocks and less than target sowing of cotton in some parts of lint growing areas in Punjab and Sindh has resulted paucity of better grades”. Intending growers in Sindh started sowing crop in some cultivation areas after water availability and also demanded supply of certified cottonseed and regular release of irrigation water into canals would affect fresh season sowing. Better lint remained in high demand and prices remained around Rs 8,200 per maund to Rs 8,225 per maund. Deals at Sindh and Punjab stations for raw grade took place above spot rate while around 1,800 bales changed hands during trading session. The stations including Sanghar, Rahimyar Khan, Multan, upper Sindh and Southern Punjab remained active in dealings besides deals by mill to spinners also changed hands in Punjab. The deals changed hands at around Rs 7,925 per maund to Rs 8,000 per maund. In international market December Future contract 2018 were hovering between 82.30 cents per pound, March Futures 2019 contract at 82.18 cents per pound while Cotlook A Index remained intact above 90 cents per pound. Published in Daily Times, September 3rd 2018.