The Los Angeles Business Journal’s index of the largest local public companies closed up for the week ended April 16, even as the overall markets fell sharply on news that Goldman Sachs was facing civil fraud charges.

The weighted LABJ index closed up 1.8 percent to 121.29, with gainers outpacing decliners 109 to 70.

California Pizza Kitchen Inc. gained 11 percent to $20.25 after the Los Angeles restaurant chain confirmed that it had hired an advisor to explore strategic alternatives that could include a sale or merger.

Simulations Plus Inc. jumped 27 percent to $2.35 after the Lancaster pharmaceutical industry software developer reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings.

Staar Surgical Co. gained 24 percent to $4.70 after the Monrovia implantable eye lens maker said its first-quarter revenue rose 12 percent.

Among the largest decliners was Songzai International Holding Group Inc., a City of Industry company that runs coal mining operations in the People’s Republic of China. The company dropped 34 percent to $6.75 after filing its 10k annual report for 2009.

Joe’s Jeans Inc., a Commerce premium denim manufacturer, slid nearly 21 percent to $2.73 after hitting a new 52-week high earlier in the week following a good quarterly earnings report.