KARACHI, Feb 12: Cotton market finished the weekend session on a firm note as ginners held on to their unsold positions amid predictions of further increase in prices.

Upper Sindh lint (K-68 Sawgin), known for its fine quality again came in for active mill support but ginners were not inclined to go all-out despite higher bids, dealers said.

A major buying thrust was confined to it as some of the spinners were said to be buyers around Rs2,225 to Rs2,250 per maund, showing an increase of Rs25 to Rs50 over the last couple of weeks' average rate, they said.

Some of the mills managed to oblige upper Sindh ginners and lifted 2,000 bales, around Rs2,225 but were not inclined to go above this rate at least for the near-term.

"Spinner worries about the future supplies are based on reports that the crop figure may not touch the high mark of 15m bales as earlier estimated", says a leading cotton analyst adding "but a steep decline in arrival figures of phutti during the last fortnight has changed the entire supply and demand outlook".

Both ginners and spinners are awaiting the arrival figures for the fortnight ending Feb 15, and will plan their future buying and selling strategy on it.

Meanwhile, despite unconfirmed reports of import deals by some of the leading spinners, there is no official word from the Aptma on the issue. But some leading textile mill owners say the local crop is enough to meet their consumption demand and there is no need to go for imports.

"We are eyeing the fine lint stored in TCP godowns", some spinners said adding that "its tally of 2.5m bales is a big total and a part of it could be sold to the spinners".

The prime minister on Saturday met an Aptma delegation and discussed with them problems related to the textile sector but he reportedly did not say a word on spinners demand that they should be allowed to take part in TCP cotton auctions along with the foreign bidders.

Official spot rates were firmly held at the last level of Rs2,150 but in physical trading most of the deals were done well above them.

Ready off-take was light totalling about 10,000 bales, the following being some of the important deals: 2,000 bales, Sanghar at Rs2,075, 2,000 bales, Gothki, Dharki, Mirpur Mathelo at Rs2,200-2,225, 3,000 bales, Khanpur at Rs2,200, 1,000 bales, Sadiqabad at Rs2,150 and 500 bales, Gojra also at Rs2,150.