Mixed sentiments prevailed on the Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) on Friday where equities moved both ways and finally stayed in positive zone amid fresh buying in oil annd fertiliser sectors' shares The LSE-25 index was marginally increased by 4.14 points to close at 2935.34 against 2931.20 points of Thursday, while transaction volume was squeezed to 1.485 million shares, as compared to 1.580 million shares traded a day earlier.
The market was opened on a depressed note and maintained downward slide due to selling pressure during first trading session. However, as soon as the second session started the fertiliser and oil sectors' companies attracted investors who made fresh entries. As a result, the market showed recovery and finally ended with marginal gain.
Pakistan Oil Fields, PPL, OGDC, Mari Gas, Nishat Chunian Power, Nishat Power of the oil and energy sector helped market sentiments, while Fauji Fertiliser, Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim, Nishat Mills, and Lotte Pakistan PTA also performed well.
However, Attock Refinery, Engro Corporation, Arif Habib Corporation, Engro Polymer and Chemical, Habib Sugar Mills, Fauji Cement, Javed Omer Vohra and Fatima Fertiliser remained under selling pressure. The gainers were marginally ahead of the losers, as out of a total of 107 active issues, 24 companies posted gains, 20 stayed in negative column, while values of 63 companies remained unchanged at their previous levels.
Among gainers, Bata Pakistan was improved by Rs 19.99, Mari Gas gained Rs 4.52, Pakistan Oil Fields was appreciated by Rs 1.60, while PPL and Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim were up by Rs 1.50 and Rs 0.64, respectively. In the minus column, Ferozsons Laboratories lost Rs 2.51, Attock Refinery was declined by Rs 1.53, Engro Corporation was depreciated by Rs 1.06, while Arif Habib Corporation was down by 57-paisa. Japan Power was the market leader whose 306,349 shares changed hands followed by Lotte Pakistan PTA with 191,310 shares.