KARACHI: The stocks snapped five-day losing streak on Thursday as the KSE-100 index once again recovered to march northwards.

The index gained 206 points (0.47 per cent) and closed at 44,255 points.

Investors were believed to be on bargain hunting in shares which of fered growth stories. For the time being political and economic worries were put on the back burner.

The buying interest of investors was centred on the cement sector which contributed 87 points to the index. Cement stocks gained as provisional sales numbers for January were expected to show 14pc yearon-year growth. Pioneer Cement closed at its uppercircuit, while DGKC up 3.09pc and Lucky Cement 3.22pc.Other sectors that made major contribution to the index included E&P (39points), fertiliser (30 points), power (27 points) and pharma (25 points).The volume was down 21pc over the previous day to 228m shares, while thetraded value decreased 18pc to Rs9.7bn. WorldCall emerged as the market leader as the court restrained PSX from placing the company in the defaulter`s segment.

Habib Bank gained 2.3pc, Lucky Cement 3.2pc, Dawood Hercules 5pc, Hubco 1.9pc and DG Khan Cement 3.1pc, adding 213 points to the index. United Bank was down 1.5pc, MCB Bank 1.1pc, Colgate Palmolive 4.3pc and Bank Alhabib 1.1pc, tal(ing away 98 points.

Mixed sentiments were seen in the banking sector.

In the E&P sector, Pakistan Oilfield was up 1.07pc, Pakistan Petroleum 0.12pc and OGDC 0.57pc as oil prices ticked higher in the international market. Steel sector remained firm on declining scrap prices and expectation of upcoming expansions.