The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its rally to the third day on Thursday, with the benchmark KSE-100 index gaining 898 points to close at 41,796.

The index gained around a 1,000 points within the first 15 minutes of trading to peak at 41,896 points, after which it traded sideways for most part of the day.

"The market turned bullish as investors took part in the pre-election rally," Topline Market Research noted. "Market participation was recorded as the highest in more than three months as volumes grew 36 per cent over yesterday."

Volumes touched 337 million shares in the session, with the traded value climbing to over Rs13 billion.

Of the 367 scrips traded, 253 advanced, 97 declined and 17 remained unchanged.

Commercial banks dominated trading with 46.5m shares traded, followed by chemical and transport sectors with 41.3m and 31.9m shares traded respectively.

Volumes were led by:

1. K-Electric Limited: 22.8m shares traded [+6.03pc];

2. Lotte Chemical Pakistan Ltd: 21.1m shares traded [+8.42pc];

3. Pakistan Intl. Bulk Terminal Ltd.(R): 20.4m shares traded [+42.00pc];

4. Bank Of Punjab: 20.1m shares traded [+3.78pc];

5. Pak Elektron Ltd" 13.7m shares traded [+4.97pc].