Foreign investors continued pouring in big sum into Pakistan's Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) on Thursday as the main index clinched a never-seen-before level above the psychological 19,600 mark with healthy volumes ahead of the General Election 2013.

The benchmark KSE 100-Index jumped by 0.97 percent to 19,661.46 points -- an all-time high, from the 19,472.55 (the previous record high) points reported on Wednesday as investors remained busy on the buying counters to be part of the pre-election rally in the Karachi bourse.

The KSE All Share Index advanced by 0.7 percent or 97.51 points to end at 14,004.45, as against 13,906.94 reported on Wednesday; the KSE 30-Index rose by 1.12 percent or 168.82 points to conclude at 15,203.59, up from the previous close of 15,034.77; whereas the KMI 30-Index gained 0.36 percent or 120.18 points to finish at 33, 927.3, as compared with 33,807.12 in the previous session.

The Karachi Stock Exchange started off amid bullish sentiments on Thursday morning and the main index kept swelling for the best part of the day. During the initial bullish movement, the key index overcame the 19,600 level and at around halfway stage it crossed the psychological level of 19,700 before hitting an all- time intraday high of 19,736.25.

Though some last-hour profit-taking reduced part of the gains, the main index still managed to close at a historical high with decent surge.

Trading volume on the bourse shrank by 18.43 million shares to 233.70 million shares on Thursday, as against 252.12 million shares registered on Wednesday.

Turnover declined by 1.11 billion rupees (11.33 million U.S. dollars) to 8.14 billion rupees (83.04 million U.S. dollars), compared to Wednesday's 9.25 billion rupees (94.36 million U.S. dollars).

The market capitalization swelled by 33.36 billion rupees (340. 40 million U.S. dollars) to 4.84 trillion rupees (49.35 billion U. S. dollars), up from 4.80 trillion rupees (49.01 billion U.S. dollars) posted in the previous session.

Foreign investors have been the driving force behind the pre- election rally. According to data released by the National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited, foreign investors did net buying of 1.36 billion rupees (13.92 million U.S. dollars) on Wednesday.

In the first eight days of May alone, foreign investors made a net investment of nearly 9 billion rupees (91.80 million U.S. dollars), just 625 million rupees (6.38 million U.S. dollars) lower than the total foreign buying at the Karachi Stock Exchange in the first four months of the year.

In broader market, trading occurred in a total of 381 issues on Thursday, with 205 advancing, 142 losing and 34 remaining flat.

Jahangir Siddiqui Company Limited turned out to be most heavily traded, with 21.64 million shares changing hands. It was followed by Lotte Chemical, TRG Pakistan Limited, BankIslami Pakistan, Fauji Cement and Wateen Telecom Limited.

Shezan International remained as the leading gainer for third straight day on Thursday as its price increased by 32.13 rupees ( 32.78 U.S. cents) to close at 674.77 rupees (6.88 U.S. dollars). On the other hand, Rafhan Maize XD led the decliners, falling by 232.50 rupees (2.37 U.S. dollars) a share to finish at 4,417.50 rupees (45.07 U.S. dollars). Endi

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