KARACHI, Dec 23: Cotton market maintained a firm outlook on Friday as prices of fine types were quoted higher by Rs100 per maund amid active mills ready off-take, including some big lots.

Some other deals in the southern Punjab lint were done as higher as Rs5,150 per maund and dealers foresee a fresh increase in the coming sessions.

Floor brokers said an expected entry of the Trading Corporation of Pakistan as a market stabiliser has reinforced grower perception of future fair prices but the rise could be progressive after it resumes its operational strategy.

The mills buying thrust at the moment is on the Punjab type for quality reason and long positions are being built up in it, while lint from the Sindh is being neglected despite offered well below Rs3,500 per maund, they said.

However, the TCP is still in the process of formulating its buying priorities and is expected to announce them by early next year.

But on the other hand, Sindh type failed to keep pace with its Punjab counterpart owing to quality premiums followed by damages caused to standing crop by rains and floods in the lower and central Sindh cotton belts, they said.

Lint from upper Sindh ginneries, including Ghotki, Dharki and Mirpur Mathelo known for better quality, is steadily caching up with its Punjab type and as a big deal of 3,000 bales changed hands at Rs4,900 to 5,000.

Official spot rates were quoted higher by Rs100 per maund at Rs5,000 but in the ready section some of the fine types were traded as higher as Rs5,150.

New York cotton futures maintained its recovery and were quoted further higher by 0.40 and 0.42 cents per lb at 87.24 and 87.08 for both the ruling March and the distant May contracts, respectively.

The following are some of the notable deals reported by the Karachi Brokers' Forum on Friday: SINDH TYPE:

400 bales, each Tando Adam, Nawabshah and Bucheri at Rs3,300 to 4,050 and 2,000 bales, Khairpur at Rs4,500 to 4,700. PUNJAB VARIETY:

1,000 bales, Bahawalnagar at Rs4,900 to 5,000, 1,000 bales, Fort Abbas at 4,900, 1,000 bales, Ahmedpur East at 4,900 to 5,000, 2,000 bales, Khanewal at 4,950 to 5,000, 2,000 bales, Rahimyar Khan at 5,000 to 5,075, 1,000 bales, Yazman and 3,000 bales, Khanpur at 5,000,1,400 bales, Liaquatpur at 5,000 to 5,100, 400 bales, Jalalpur and 600 bales, Shujabad and 400 bales, each Shadan Lund and Tonsa Sharif at 5,100 and 1,000 bales, Rajanpur at 5,150.