Bullish sentiments prevailed on the Lahore Stock Exchange on Monday and the equities registered gains amid improved trading turnover. The LSE-25 index gained 38.44 points to close at 4195.04 against 4156.60 of last Friday while trading turnover was increased to 5.762 million shares compared with previous volume of 2.380 million shares.
The market was opened on a healthy sign and stayed in green zone throughout the day on account of the investors' interest who made fresh entries in anticipation of further continuation of bullish trend. Oil and banking sector's shares like PSO, OGDC, PPL Attock Refinery, MCB Bank, Habib Bank, Bank of Punjab registered considerable gains. Similarly, Nishat Mills, Nishat Chunian, D.G. Khan Cement, Fauji Cement, Lafarge Pakistan Cement, Maple Leaf Cement, PIAC and Adamjee Insurance also performed well.
However, fertiliser sector remained depressed, as Engro Corporation, Fauji Fertiliser, Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim and Fatima Fertiliser remained under selling pressure while NetSol Technologies and Tariq Glass Industries also could not resist pressure. The gainers were more than the losers, as out of a total of 111 active issues, 48 companies posted gains, 10 stayed in negative column, while 53 companies remained unchanged at their previous closing.
MCB Bank gained Rs 11.82, PSO was increased by Rs 10.57, Habib Bank was appreciated by Rs 3.69 while Nishat Mills and OGDC were up by Rs 3.56 and Rs 3.12, respectively. In the minus column, NetSol Technologies lost 84-paisa, Tariq Glass Industries shed 30-paisa while Engro Corporation was declined by 23-paisa. Bank of Punjab was the market leader whose 1.386 million shares changed hands followed by Fauji Cement with 1.024 million shares.