Equities on Wednesday moved both ways on the Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) and finally ended on mixed note amid increased trading turnover on account of fresh buying in selective scrips. The LSE-25 index marginally declined by 5.12 points and was closed at 3224.60 points against 3229.72 points of Tuesday, while transaction volume was improved to 2.911 million shares, as compared to 1.918 million shares traded a day earlier.
The market opened on a healthy sign and kept on staying in positive zone because of the investors' interest in Pakistan Oil Fields, OGDC, PPL, Attock Refinery, Sui Southern, Sui Northern, Bank Alfalah, United Bank, NIB Bank, PICIC Growth Fund, Pakistan Reinsurance and Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim.
During the day's trading, market took a dip but positive sentiments helped immediate recovery. As a result, the market stayed in green zone till the end of trading. However, because of profit taking, some blue chips including Adamjee Insurance, MCB Bank, Bank Al-Habib, National Bank, PSO, Fauji Fertiliser, Engro Corporation, Dawood Hercules Chemicals, Javed Omer Vohra and Company and Lotte Pakistan remained under selling pressure.
The losers were just ahead of the gainers, as out of a total of 110 active issues, 27 companies posted gains, 28 recorded losses, while values of 55 companies remained unchanged at their previous closing. Among gainers, Pakistan Oil Fields was improved by Rs 1.50, OGDC was appreciated by Rs 1.05, while Sui Southern and Flying Cement were up by 82-paisa and 80-paisa each.
In the minus column, Blessed Textile lost Rs 3.33, Adamjee Insurance was declined by 94-paisa, while MCB Bank and PSO were down by 80-paisa and 50-paisa, respectively. Japan Power was the market leader whose 527,627 shares changed hands followed by Bank of Punjab with 391,428 shares.