February 26, 2006	Sunday	Muharram 27, 1427

KARACHI, Feb 25: The CFS rates on the Karachi Stock Exchange last week remained on the higher side as most of the financing operations were carried out at 18.00 per cent as compared to 17.8 per cent a week earlier.

Analysts at a leading research house said leveraging situation was kept in check despite rising spreads in stock futures, which is highest since last December. “In a way it may reflect that the KSE 100-share index may have entered the consolidation phase,” they added.

Investment through the CFS was also higher as Rs24.5 billion were financed, below the ceiling of Rs25bn which showed that the demand for funds was met at higher rates, they said.

The Lahore Stock Exchange also performed in tandem of the KSE where the CFS rates rose to 18.4pc as leveraging touched the higher limit of Rs2.3 billion. The open interest in March stock futures rose to Rs15.6 billion as compared to Rs12.8 billion in February settlements, they added.