Pakistani stocks end close to 30-mth high; rupee firms

KARACHI Dec 30 (Reuters) - Pakistani stocks ended near a 30 month high on Thursday, with the energy and banking sector in the limelight amid expectations of healthy financial results, dealers said.

The Karachi Stock Exchange's benchmark 100-share index .KSE ended 1.22 percent, or 145.44 points, higher at 12,031.46, its highest close since July 2008.

Volume was 140 million shares compared with 99.78 million traded on Wednesday.

"Investors are expecting good payouts and strong profits from the banking and oil sector," said Ahfaz Mustafa, managing director at Ismail Iqbal Securities Ltd.

On Thursday, National Bank of Pakistan (NBPK.KA) ended 2.86 percent higher at 75.99 rupees, while Pakistan Oilfields (PKOL.KA) closed up 3.24 percent at 298.99 rupees.

Dealers said the energy sector saw gains, the heaviest weighted on the KSE-index, because investors expected healthy corporate profits, and international oil prices were trading above $91 a barrel.

In the currency market, the rupee PKR= ended at 85.67/73 to the dollar, firmer than Wednesday's close of 85.81/88.

"There were fresh dollar inflows in the market today," said a local bank dealer.

In the money market, overnight rates ended lower at 11.15 percent, compared with the previous day's close of 12.75 percent, amid increased liquidity in the market as there was scheduled net inflows of around 11 billion rupees ($128.4 million). (Reporting by Sahar Ahmed) (For more Reuters coverage of Pakistan, see: here)