The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed lackluster trading activities and the key index ended flat with a meager increase as investors remained on the sidelines amid continuous selling by the foreign investors.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange's benchmark KSE 100-Index inched up marginally by 0.02 percent or 7.33 points to 42,411.80 points on Thursday when compared with 42,404.47 points recorded on Wednesday.

The KSE All-Share Index gained 0.14 percent or 40.57 points to 29,148.10 points, the KSE 30-Index skidded lower by 0.06 percent or 14.08 points to 22,841.64 points, the KMI 30-Index grew by 0.24 percent or 167.62 points to 70,615.37 points, whereas the Islamic All-Share Index swelled by 0.06 percent or 12.66 points to 20,146.82 points.

During Thursday's trading session, the main index moved in a slim range of 199.20 points as it touched an intraday high of 42,526.15 points as against an intraday low of 42,326.95 points.

Investors preferred staying away from the trading activities on the back of continuous foreign outflows. Hascol Petroleum Limited (HASCOL) closed at its upper limit for the second straight day as it announced Wednesday that Vitol Dubai is acquiring additional 10 percent shares.

Mid-capped stocks such as Pakistan International Airlines (PIAA), Jahangir Siddiqui Company Limited (JSCL), JS Bank Limited (JSBL) led interest to close up in the range of 4.5 percent to 9.4 percent.

Market volumes improved by 28.77 percent or 110.978 million shares to 496.679 million shares on Thursday when compared with 385.701 million shares posted on Wednesday.

Market capitalization increased by 0.11 percent or 9.417 billion rupees (89.689 million U.S. dollars) to 8.589 trillion rupees (81.809 billion U.S. dollars) whereas trade value bolstered by 19.04 percent or 2.487 billion rupees (23.694 million U.S. dollars) to 15.552 billion rupees (148.120 million U.S. dollars).

Among 423 active scrips on Thursday, prices of 207 issues advanced, 197 ended lower, whereas values of 19 other companies stayed unchanged.

Dost Steel (R), Pakistan International Airlines, and Bank of Punjab were the top traded companies with turnovers of 52.318 million shares, 41.490 million shares, and 27.892 million shares, respectively.

Wyeth Pakistan Limited was the top price gainer with an increment of 186.50 rupees (1.77 U.S. dollars) to 3,916.55 rupees (37.30 U.S. dollars) while on the other hand, Rafhan Maize XD led the major price shedders with a decrement of 242.50 rupees (2.31 U.S. dollars) to 7,457.50 rupees (71.02 U.S. dollars).