Panic in ISE building

A large number of investors left the building of the Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE) on Thursday morning, reacting to the rumours that another massive earthquake is likely to hit the federal capital.
ISE Chairman Abdul Waheed Jan told Business Recorder that trading at the Islamabad Stock Exchange was not suspended on the rumours of earthquake though some investors left the trading houses.
He said that the trading at the newest bourse continued smoothly and genuine investors and traders participated in buying and selling activity. On rumours of earthquake, certain investors twice left the ISE building, he added.
On the other hand, most of brokerage houses and financial institutions remained busy in booking orders from the investors, as there was no fresh tremor during the trading session, a large number of traders preferred to participate in trading activity.
Abdul Waheed Jan said: "We have advised the investors to remain calm, and react on the warning of the meteorological department.
Meanwhile, the board meeting for the relief operations also continued uninterrupted during Tursday's session.
When asked whether there was any break in the trading, the ISE chairman said that neither the trading suspended, nor did the ISE management leave the building, but definitely there was some panic, which was witnessed throughout the trading session.
Zahid Latif, from Zahid Securities, said the same panic-like situation was witnessed at the brokerage houses of Rawalpindi city where investors preferred to remain outside the buildings. Less panic was witnessed at the financial institutions located at the single story buildings as compared to brokers and traders operating in high-rise buildings.
Bank officials working near the ISE Building confirmed that there was panic-like situation at the ISE and investors came out of the building on quake rumours.
A leading moneychanger of Islamabad said that there was no panic at the Blue Area currency shops and people remained busy in buying and selling of greenback and other currencies.