Equities on Thursday moved both ways on the Lahore Stock Exchange and finally stayed in positive zone amid decreased trading turnover. However, LSE-25 index lost 8.17 points to close at 4033.06 against 4041.23 of last Tuesday while transaction volume was restricted to 1.999 million shares compared with previous volume of 2.605 million shares.
The market was opened on a healthy sign but later kept on moving up and down throughout the day. Because of the volatile situation, the investors adopted cautious approach that resulted in low trading activity. PPL, Crescent Steel and Allied, NetSol Technologies, Nishat Mills, Pakistan Reinsurance, Fatima Fertiliser, Dawood Hercules Corporation, Fauji Fertiliser, Kot Addu Power, Pioneer Cement, Fauji Cement, Maple Leaf Cement, Lafarge Pakistan Cement, Askari Bank, PIAC helped market avert more declines.
On the contrary, Thal Limited, Engro Corporation, Engro Foods, MCB Bank, National Bank, Nishat Chunian, PTCL, Wateen Telecom, Bank of Punjab and Flying Cement remained under pressure. The gainers were more than the losers, as out of a total of 108 active issues, 35 companies posted gains, 16 registered losses, while 57 companies remained unchanged at their previous closing.
PPL gained Rs 2.01, Crescent Steel and Allied was appreciated by Rs 1.93, while NetSol Technologies and Nishat Mills were improved by Rs 1.29 and Rs 1.21, respectively. In the minus column, Thal Limited lost Rs 6, Engro Corporation was declined by Rs 2.91, while MCB Bank and Engro Foods shed 75-paisa and 50-paisa, respectively. Fauji Cement with trading of 842,000 shares topped the volume leaders followed by Bank of Punjab with 207,000 shares.