Equities have swung to and fro on the stock exchange but settled in the green zone amid a slightly thin trading turnover. The LSE-25 index gained 57.48 points to 5550.57 against 5493.09 of last Friday while transaction volume stayed at 755,000 shares compared with the previous volume of 884,100 shares. The market after resuming trading on a positive sign sharply declined in the absence of buyers' interest.
Later, the market witnessed up and downward moves that forced the investors to adopt cautious approach resulting in low trading activity. The cement sector's companies like Cherat Cement, Maple Leaf Cement, Fauji Cement, Pioneer Cement, Lafarge Pakistan Cement helped market sentiments while Pak Elektron, Fauji Fertiliser, Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim, Adamjee Insurance, and Byco Petroleum also performed well. However, the banking sector's companies including MCB Bank, United Bank, Allied Bank, Bank Alfalah, Faysal Bank, NIB Bank and Bank of Punjab remained under pressure.
Gainers were more than losers as out of 85 active companies, 15 posted gains, eight suffered losses while 62 companies remained unchanged at their last week closing. Ferozsons Laboratories gained Rs 10.05, Cherat Cement Rs 3.56, Maple Leaf Cement Rs 3.10 while Pak Elektron, Fauji Fertiliser and Pioneer Cement were up by Rs 2.71, 240 and Rs 2.36. The MCB Bank lost Rs 12.73, United Bank declined by Rs 7.22 while Allied Bank and Bank Alfalah were down by Rs 1.50 and Rs 1.35. The Bank of Punjab with trading of 386,500 shares topped the volume leaders followed by NIB Bank with 100,000 shares.