Equities on Friday registered gains amid bullish sentiments on the Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE), as investors made fresh entries in select scrips ahead of long break on account of Eid holidays. The LSE-25 index was increased by 46.35 points and was ended at 3195.84 against 3149.49 of Thursday, while transaction volume was marginally increased to 1.849 million shares, as compared to 1.726 million shares traded a day earlier.
The market was opened on a healthy sign and because of the investors' interest in oil, banking, and fertiliser sectors stayed in positive zone almost throughout the day. As a result, most of the blue chips including PSO, Pakistan Oil Fields, Attock Refinery, OGDC, PPL, Engro Corporation, Fauji Fertiliser, Fatima Fertiliser, National Bank, MCB Bank, Bank Alfalah, Bank of Punjab, Silk Bank, D.G. Khan Cement, Nishat Mills, Arif Habib Corporation helped market stay in green zone. However, Lafarge Pakistan Cement, Askari Bank, Hub Power, Javed Omer Vohra and Company witnessed marginal declines.
The gainers were far ahead of the losers, as out of a total of 100 active issues, 26 companies showed strength, 7 ended in minus column, while values of 67 companies remained unchanged at their previous closing. PSO was improved by Rs 11.10, Pakistan Oil Fields gained Rs 5.50, Attock Refinery was appreciated by Rs 5.48, while Engro Corporation and OGDC were up by Rs 5.12 and Rs 2.78, respectively. Lafarge Pakistan Cement lost 24-paia, Askari Bank was declined by 15-paisa, while Hub Power was down by 09-paisa. Fatima Fertiliser was the market leader whose 217,842 shares changed hands followed by PICIC Growth Fund with 197,560 shares.