Bullish sentiments dominated on the Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) on Thursday and the equities registered fresh gains amid improved trading turnover because of the investors' interest in selective scrips. The LSE-25 index was further increased by 46.92 points and was ended at 3581.14 against 3534.22 of Wednesday, while transaction volume was considerably improved to 8.066 million shares, as compared to 4.742 million shares traded a day earlier.
The market resumed trading at positive note and kept on rising almost throughout the day's trading. The market took a slight dip during the day but buying interest in potential shares led the market upward. As a result, National Bank, United Bank, Millat Tractors, Dawood Hercules Chemical, Nishat Mills, Engro Corporation, Fauji Fertiliser, PPL, Lotte Pakistan PTA, Nimir Industrial Chemical, Hub Power, Dewan Salman and Arif Habib Corporation posted visible gains.
Selling pressure also took place, as the investors, to pocket the available margin, offloaded their positions in Pakistan Oil Fields, PSO, Habib Bank, MCB Bank, Bank Al-Habib, Bank of Punjab, Faysal Bank, Askari Bank and Fatima Fertiliser.
The advancing stocks were ahead of declining ones, as out of a total of 114 active companies, 50 recorded gains, 16 posted losses, while 48 companies stayed glued to their previous levels. Among gainers, Millat Tractors was improved by Rs 6.50, Dawood Hercules Chemical gained Rs 4.05, National Bank was appreciated by Rs 3.74, while Nishat Mills and Thal Limited were up by Rs 2.77 and Rs 2.50, respectively.
In the minus column, Pakistan Oil Fields lost Rs 1.76, Habib Bank was declined by Re 1.00, MCB Bank was slide down by 98-paisa, while D.S. Industries and Bank Al-Habib were down by 75-paisa and 30-paisa, respectively. Lotte Pakistan PTA with trading of 2.643 million shares topped the volume leaders followed by National Bank with 1.049 million shares.