The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) managed to close in the positive zone on Wednesday with the benchmark KSE-100 index gaining 27 points to close at 42,771 points.

The benchmark index opened higher to peak at 43,061 points but lost points to trade within 200-point range for most part of the day.

In all, 131.33 million shares worth Rs5.5 billion were traded at the exchange. Of the 337 traded scrips, 163 advanced while 162 declined and 12 remained unchanged.

Topline Market Review noted that the market participation declined due to inconclusive meetings between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition on the caretaker prime minister issue.

Commercial banks dominated trading by a margin with 30.8m shares traded.

Volumes were led by:

1. Faysal Bank Limited: 18.3m shares traded [-0.08pc];

2. Pakistan Elektron Ltd: 6.9m shares traded [-0.75pc];

3. Fauji Cement Co Ltd: 6.9m shares traded [-0.43pc];

4. Bank Of Punjab: 5.9m shares traded [+2.06pc];

5. Sui Northern Gas Pipe Line Ltd: 5.5m shares traded [2.12pc].