[[IMAGE: KSE’s benchmark 100-share index crawls up 18 points.]] KARACHI:? The stock market remained range-bound on the last trading session of the week as investors stayed away ahead of the monetary policy announcement scheduled today (Saturday) The Karachi Stock Exchange’s (KSE) benchmark 100-share index gained 0.15 per cent or 18.36 points to end at the 12,231.60 point level. The Supreme Court’s hearing scheduled for February 13 also kept investors from taking major positions in the market, said JS Global Capital analyst Umer Ayaz on Friday. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will appear before the court on February 13 to face contempt charges against him for the government’s two-year refusal to write to Swiss authorities to revive cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. Unilever gained Rs12.94 to close at Rs5,312.77 after posing better than expected earnings per share of Rs308 along with final dividend of Rs202 per share. Among blue chips, National Bank of Pakistan and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited witnessed decent volumes of 5.7 million and 3.9 million shares, respectively. Oil stocks remained lacklustre despite the approval of petroleum policy by Council of Common Interests. Trade volumes fell to 107 million shares compared with Thursday’s tally of 139 million shares.

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Market Watch: Bourse ends flat as all eyes on monetary policy