Equities on Thursday maintained upward trend and registered gains amid bullish sentiments on the Lahore Stock Exchange as investors stayed on buying course to pick potential shares. The LSE-25 index was marginally improved by 2.60 points and was closed at 3,126.30 against 3,123.70 of Wednesday while transaction volume was restricted to 1.331 million shares as compared to last day's volume of 1.794 million shares.
The market opened on a healthy sign and stayed in green zone following buying support in selective shares. Some blue chips like Engro Corporation, Fatima Fertiliser, MCB Bank, Habib Bank, Nishat Mills, Nishat Chunian, Attock Refinery, Sui Northern, Arif Habib Corporation and Cherat Cement registered gains. However, because of profit taking, Pakistan Oil Fields, POS, PPL and OGDC from the oil sector's shares remained under pressure. Similarly, Fauji Fertiliser, Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim, Bank of Punjab, Faysal Bank, Askari Bank and National Bank also failed to resist selling pressure.
The gainers were more than the losers, as out of a total of 97 active issues 18 companies posted gains, 13 went down, while 66 companies ended at their previous closing. Engro Corporation gained Rs 5.48, MCB Bank improved by Rs 5.44 and Nishat Mills appreciated by Rs 1.83 while Attock Refinery was up by Rs 1.03.
In the minus column, Pakistan Oil Fields lost Rs 6.57, PSO declined by Rs 6.02, Fauji Fertiliser shed Rs 3.50 while PPL and OGDC depreciated by Rs 2.25 and Rs 1.30, respectively. Southern Electric Power with trading of 236,500 shares topped the volume leaders followed by Fatima Fertiliser with 182,220 shares.