KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange endured a dull session on Thursday with the benchmark index trading range bound throughout the day.
The KSE-100 Index opened on a weak note, but buying in some stocks helped it finish trading in the green zone.
A lack of positive triggers and massive selling by foreigners a day ago pushed investors to the sidelines. The sacking of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and troubled macroeconomic indicators in Pakistan also caused jitters among investors.
At close, the benchmark KSE 100-share Index recorded an increase of 87.35 points or 0.20% to settle at 43,495.07.
Morning news of an amnesty scheme expected to be announced by the end of March failed to stir interest among participants who continued to track institutional flows in key sectors for direction.
Volumes were mostly focused on small-cap speculative plays with stocks like Lotte Chemical Pakistan (+3.9%) leading the volumes chart.
Overall, trading volumes increased to 220 million shares compared with Wednesday’s tally of 198 million.
Shares of 381 companies were traded. At the end of the day, 206 stocks closed higher, 147 declined while 28 remained unchanged. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs5.7 billion.
Lotte Chemical was the volume leader with 34.7 million shares, gaining Rs0.38 to close at Rs10.15. It was followed by Nimir Resins with 13.5 million shares, gaining Rs0.97 to close at Rs10.20 and Fauji Foods with 11.5 million shares, gaining Rs0.75 to close at Rs29.39.
