Mixed trend was observed on the Lahore Stock Exchange on Friday where equities moved both ways but ended in green zone because of the investors' interest in fertiliser sector and select blue chips. The LSE-25 index improved marginally by 5.92 points, ending at 3942.42 points, against 3936.50 points of Thursday. Transaction volume increased considerably to 11.102 million shares as compared to 7.563 million shares.
The market opened on a healthy sign but later kept on moving up and down during the first trading session. The investors remained conscious and adopted "buying on dip and sell on strength" policy to avert losses. During second trading session, the market continued early trend and moved both ways because of the investors' behaviour. Fresh entries in fertilizer sector shares like Engro Corporation, Fauji Fertilizer, Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim helped the market to close in positive zone. PSO, Attock Refinery, Adamjee Insurance, Arif Habib Corp, Lafarge Pakistan Cement, D G Khan Cement, Bank of Punjab, Askari Bank and Bank Alfalah also performed well.
However, selling pressure because of profit taking in MCB Bank, National Bank, Habib Bank, OGDC, Kot Addu Power and Flying Cement ahead of closing of trading was also seen that pushed the index down. As many as 125 companies were traded out, of which 53 showed strength and 15 went down, while values of 57 companies remained unchanged.
Millat Tractors gained Rs 12.90, Engro Corporation improved by Rs 10.44, PSO appreciated by Rs 7.84, Dawood Hercules Chemical gained Rs 7.14, and Fauji Fertiliser was up byRs 6.88. MCB Bank lost Rs 6.27, National Bank declined by Rs 1.08, Habib Bank was down by 97 paisa and OGDC depreciated by 96 paisa. Lotte Pakistan PTA was market leader with 1.773 million shares, followed by Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim with 1.132 million shares.