The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday closed on a flattish note, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining 87 points.

The benchmark index experienced a mixed session before closing at 43,495. It touched a day's low of 43,367 points and a high of 43,509 near the close of trading.

Volumes edged up, as 220.44 million shares worth Rs5.73 billion changed hands compared to 198m shares worth Rs6.79b traded on the previous day. Of the 375 traded scrips, 194 advanced, 153 declined and 28 remained unchanged.

An Elixir Securities report read: "Pakistan equities closed with marginal gains after a range-bound and lacklustre trading session."

The market opened on a dreary note and continued to witness extremely low activity during the day, which led to the benchmark index recording its lowest turnover in almost three months at $24m, it added.

A Topline Securities report held "lack of any trigger in the market" responsible for the lacklustre trading.

Overall, the chemical sector dominated trading activity with 60.86m shares traded, while food and personal care products and communication scrips followed with 24.22m and 14.77m shares changing hands.

Volumes were led by:

• Lotte Chemical: 34.70m shares traded [+3.89pc];

• Nimir Resins: 13.50m shares traded [+10.51pc];

• Fauji Foods Ltd: 11.47m shares traded [+2.26pc];

• Unity Foods Ltd: 10.40m shares traded [-3.99pc];

• Azgard Nine: 8.77m shares traded [+4.16pc].