Pakistani stocks end higher; rupee flat

KARACHI, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Pakistani stocks rose on Thursday despite a suicide bomb attack in the northwest as investors bought shares on hopes of a cut in the key policy rate next week, dealers said.

The Karachi Stock Exchange's .KSE benchmark 100-share index ended 1.16 percent, or 106.43 points, higher at 9,251.19 on turnover of 83.5 million shares.

"Foreign buying during the last three sessions and the expected decline in the policy rate continued to be positive triggers," said Furqan Punjani, an analyst at Topline Securities.

The KSE-100 index has gained 60.8 percent this year after losing 57.9 percent last year.

Monetary policy for December and January is due to be announced on Nov. 24.

According to official data, foreigners bought shares worth $15.13 million in the first three trading sessions this week.

Volume was still on the low side but the negative impact of militant attacks was easing as the violence was occuring almost on a daily basis, dealers said.

Earlier, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a court building in Peshawar, killing 18 people, in the latest of a series of attacks on the northwestern city. [ID:nSP490274]

In the currency market, the rupee ended almost flat at 83.41/52 to the dollar compared with Wednesday's close of 83.42/51.