Mixed sentiments prevailed on the Lahore Stock Exchange on Monday where equities moved both ways but the last hour buying led the market up amid fresh entries in potential shares. The LSE-25 index registered an increase of 74.35 points to close at 3357.65 against 3283.30 of last Friday while transaction volume was restricted to 3.949 million shares as compared to previous volume of 4.635 million shares.
The market opened on a healthy sign and after showing an improvement of 25 points started moving up and down. The market remained directionless during early hours' trading while investors adopted conscious approach. However just ahead of closing of trading, market sharply moved up following the investors' interest in Pakistan Oil Fields, PSO, PPL, Attock Refinery, Engro Corporation, Fauji Fertiliser, Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim, MCB Bank, Bank of Punjab, National Bank, Silk Bank, Bank Alfalah, Nishat Mills, Arif Habib Corporation, Pervez Ahmed Securities, Nimir Industries Chemical and Lotte Pakistan PTA. As a result, all these companies ended with visible gains.
On the contrary, OGDC, Sui Northern, Sui Southern, Faysal Bank and Lucky Cement suffered losses and ended in negative column. The advancing stocks were far ahead of declining ones, as out of a total of 98 active issues, 44 companies registered gains, 9 went down, while 45 stayed glued to their previous levels.
Pakistan Oil Fields gained Rs 10.51, PSO was improved by Rs 8.00, PPL was appreciated by Rs 7.80, while Pakistan Engineering Company and Engro Corporation were up by Rs 6.82 and Rs 5.93 respectively. OGDC lost Rs 7.69, Treet Corporation was declined 95-paisa, while Sui Northern and Sui Southern were down by 63-paisa and 50-paisa respectively. Bank of Punjab was the market leader whose 831,638 shares changed hands while Lotte Pakistan PTA remained runner up with trading of 794,108 shares.