KARACHI, Aug 13: Cotton market maintained a firm trend on Wednesday as prices were quoted further higher amid active trading as spinners again lifted all the lots offered by ginners for sale.

Both the Sindh and Punjab types remained in strong demand at any rate below Rs4,200 per maund as spinners claim it is close to their export parity levels on the textile front.

Ginners said the second round of monsoon since Monday in the entire cotton belt may be beneficial for the growth of the crop.

However, picking operation of phutti, which is in full swing for the last couple of days, was suspended as fields are wet, they added.

After having remained under pressure for the last couple of sessions on trade selling on higher crop projections in the US, one of the major producers, New York cotton futures recovered from the current lows on revival of speculative support.

Both the ruling October and the forward December contracts were quoted higher by 0.50 and 0.89 cents per lb at 67.28 and 69.63 cents, respectively.

Official spot rates also rose by Rs25 at Rs4,125 per maund in line with those at which ready transactions are being done.

The following were some

of the notable deals on Wednesday evening:

SINDH TYPE: 200 bales, Sanghar at Rs4,125; 800 and 200 bales, Shahdadpur and Tando Adam at Rs4,150, and 400 bales, Mirpurkhas at Rs4,125 to Rs4,140.

PUNJAB VARIETY: 200 bales, Pak Pattan, at Rs4,150; 200 bales, Pir Mahal at Rs4,175; 400 bales, each Gojra and Chichawatni at Rs41,75 to Rs4,200, and 200 bales, Mongi Bangalow at Rs4,200.