Equities moved both ways but finally settled in negative column at the Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) on Friday amid ascending transaction volume. The LSE-25 index showed a decline of 08.78 points and closed at 3180.85 points against 3189.63 points of Thursday. Trading turnover significantly increased to 15.117 million shares as compared to 09.717 million shares traded a day earlier.
The market players were of the view that profit taking led the market to downward side, as the investors offloaded their holdings to avail margins. They said that levels are attractive and investors took fresh positions that led surge in transaction volume. Gainers were more than losers, as of 107 companies, 41 showed strength, 27 went down, while values of 39 companies remained unchanged.
Among the gainers, Service Industries gained Rs 16.40, Mari Gas Company improved by Rs 3.80, Lucky Cement appreciated by Rs 1.87 while Nishat Mills, D.G. Cement, UBL and Maple Leaf were up by Rs 1.70, Rs 1.44, Rs 1.09 and Re 1.00, respectively. On the other hand, MCB Bank lost Rs 4.53, Treet Corporation declined by Rs 2.96, while Adamjee Insurance, NBP, Attock Refinery, Engro Corporation, Tariq Glass and the Royal Bank of Scotland were down by Rs 1.22, Rs 0.96, Rs 0.88, Rs 0.63, Rs 051 and Rs 0.35, respectively.