Bullish sentiments continued for the second consecutive day on the Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) on Thursday where equities extended further gains amid increased trading turnover. The LSE-25 index was increased by 31.98 points to close at 3274.96 points against 3242.98 points of Wednesday, while transaction volume was increased to 3.430 million shares, as compared to 2.010 million shares traded a day earlier.
The market was opened on a healthy sign and kept on moving up following fresh buying in oil and banking sectors' shares including OGDC, PPL, PSO, MCB Bank, National Bank, while Adamjee Insurance, Engro Corporation, Lucky Cement, Nishat Mills and NetSol Technologies also performed well.
However, because of selling pressure, Pakistan Reinsurance, Attock Refinery, Fauji Fertiliser, Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim, Habib Bank, Punjab Bank, Dawood Hercules Chemical, Engro Polymer and Chemical, Arif Habib Corporation and Dewan Salman Fibre registered marginal losses. The losers were slightly ahead of the gainers. Of 108 active issues, 28 posted gains, 29 recorded losses, while values of 51 companies remained unchanged at their previous closing.
OGDC gained Rs 6.58, PPL was appreciated by Rs 3.60, ICI Pakistan was improved by Rs 3.41, while PSO, Adamjee Insurance and Thal Limited were up by Rs 2.75, Rs 2.20 and Rs 2.15, respectively. In the minus column, D.S. Industries lost 96-paisa, Pakistan Reinsurance was declined by 46-paisa, while Attock Refinery and Fauji Fertiliser were down by 45-paisa and 34-paisa, respectively. Nimir Industrial Chemical was the market leader whose 1.376 million shares changed hands followed by Nishat Mills with 334,947 shares.