Mixed sentiments prevailed on the Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) on Thursday where equities kept on moving up and down and finally ended in negative zone amid decreased trading turnover. The LSE-25 index lost 12.78 points and was closed at 3357.35 against 3370.13 of Wednesday, while transaction volume squeezed to 3.427 million shares, as compared to 4.294 million shares traded a day earlier.
The market opened on a healthy note but after staying in green zone for less than half hour started declining. Later, the market showed volatility that kept the investors away from buying course. The investors were appeared to be confused and avoided taking positions. Just an hour ahead of closing of trading, the investors offloaded their holdings to secure their positions.
PPL, Hub Power, Treet Corporation, ICI Pakistan, Ravi Textile, National Bank, D.G. Khan Cement and PTCL resisted selling pressure and registered with gains. However, selling pressure in blue chips restricted the market in minus zone. As a result, Lucky Cement, PSO, Attock Refinery, OGDC, Pakistan Oil Fields, Adamjee Insurance, Habib Bank, MCB Bank, Engro Corporation, Fauji Fertiliser, Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim, Fatima Fertiliser, Arif Habib Securities, Lotte Pakistan PTA suffered losses and closed in red zone.
The losers were more than the gainers, as out of a total of 117 active issues, 21 companies registered gains, 39 landed in minus column, while values of 57 companies remained unchanged at their previous closing. Dawood Hercules Chemical gained Rs 8.67, Millat Tractor was improved by Rs 7.34, Mari Gas was appreciated by Rs 3.55, while Sui Northern and PPL were down by Rs 1.28 and Rs 0.89, respectively.
Lucky Cement lost Rs 1.59, PSO was declined by Rs 1.36, while MCB Bank and Attock Refinery were down by Rs 1.11 and Rs 1.09, respectively. Bank Alfalah was the market leader whose 532,484 shares changed hands followed by National Bank with 442,401 shares.