Pakistan Stock Exchange witnessed a mixed trend however closed on positive note due to selective buying in late hours. BRIndex100 gained 7.94 points or 0.21 percent to close at 3,866.67 points on Thursday. During the session, the BRIndex-100 touched an intraday high of 3,882.84 and an intraday low of 3,825.78 points. Total volumes stood at 163.143 million shares.
BRIndex30 increased by 87.73 points or 0.45 percent to close at 19,693.05 points with total turnover of 136.177 million shares.
KSE-100 index gained 59.29 points and closed at 36,811.86 points. Daily trading volumes on ready counter increased to 216.247 million shares against 172.862 million shares traded on Thursday.
The foreign investors remained net buyers of shares worth $0.5 million. Out of total 323 active scrips, 185 closed in negative and 118 in positive while the value of 20 stocks remained unchanged.
Bank of Punjab was the volume leader with 53.328 million shares however declined by Rs 0.92 to close at Rs 11.62 followed by Unity Foods (R) that gained Rs 0.15 to close at Rs 1.10 with 41.826 million shares. Indus Motor Co and Pak Suzuki were the top gainers increasing by Rs 13.42 and Rs 8.02 respectively to close at Rs 1302.45 and Rs 252.72 while Sanofi-Aventis and Service Ind Limited were the top losers declining by Rs 34.99 and Rs 13.52 respectively to close at Rs 765.00 and Rs 745.71.
BR Commercial Banks Index gained 27.91 points or 0.35 percent to close at 8,097.71 points with total turnover of 61.713 million shares.
BR Cement Index declined by 64.13 points or 1.86 percent to close at 3,390.49 points with 20.681 million shares.
BR Oil and Gas Index inched up by 15.71 points or 0.35 percent to close at 4,540.45 points with 8.275 million shares.
BR Tech. & Comm. Index closed at 860.79 points, down 11.54 points or 1.32 percent with 8.346 million shares.
BR Power Generation and Distribution Index increased by 118.42 points or 2.32 percent to close at 5,221.57 points with 9.844 million shares.
Ahsan Mehanti at Arif Habib Corporation said that stocks showed recovery led by selected oil, cement and banking scrips amid speculation in the pre budget rally at PSX. Mid-session pressure remained on reports related to PM cabinet reshuffling leading to FM resignation.
He said renewed hopes for economic stability ahead of approval of IMF bailout package, rupee stability and likely resolve to FM proposed tax amnesty scheme played a catalyst role in positive close.