THE KSE 100-share index on Monday formally crossed the barrier of 14,000 points in official closing, after a couple of abortive attempts, and was last quoted at 14,019.05 points.

Its junior partner, the free-float 30-share index, soared to 17,103.38 points, leaving far behind its Indian counterpart, the 30-share Bombay Stock Exchange index, which closed at 15,046 points.

The breach was, however, significant in more than one ways as it came in the backdrop of political polarisation and tensions on the Lal Masjid issue. The sustained rise signals that investors are inclined to go by the basic positive market factors rather than weighed down by external depressants, said a leading analyst Ashraf Zakaria.