Prices on the cotton market remained firm in the process of meek trading as mills and spinners kept on the sidelines ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. The official spot rate held the overnight level at Rs 5800. The prices of seed cotton in Sindh and Punjab stayed unchanged at Rs 2800-2900.

The mills were not taking interest in purchasing of cotton due to quality factor, the fall in the business activity is attributed to ginners' attitude toward new deals as most of them were not in favour of deals at the present levels.

The ginners feared that if monsoon rains damage crop, this factor would push rates up. However, slight monsoon rains are beneficial for the cotton crop.

In the ready session, around 5000 bales of cotton changed hands between Rs 5800-5700.

The following deals were reported to has changed hands: 800 bales from Tando Adam, same figure from Mir Pur Khas, same number from Sanghar and 600 bales of cotton from Shahdadpur at Rs.5800, 400 bales from Arifwala at Rs 5850-5900, same number from Chichawatni at Rs 5900, 400 bales from Burewala at Rs 5850 and 400 bales from Haroonabad at Rs 5850-5900.