Mixed sentiment prevailed at Lahore Stock Exchange on Monday where equities moved both ways and ended in negative on account of selling pressure in select scrips. The LSE-25 index declined by 8.66 points to 3104.89 points from 3113.55 points of last Friday, while transaction volume decreased to 1.836 million shares as compared to 1.921 million shares.
The market opened on depressed note but later remained range-bound due to lack of interest on the part of investors. It showed volatility and kept on moving up and down within a limit of 10 points that forced the investors to stay away from buying course.
Market players offloaded their positions in Engro Corporation, Pakistan Oilfields, PSO, ICI Pakistan, MCB Bank, Habib Bank, Soneri Bank, Nishat Mills and Lotte Pakistan PTA to pocket available margins. However, buying in Fauji Fertiliser, Fatima Fertiliser, Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim, Arif Habib Corporation, PPL, OGDC and Attock Refinery helped the market checked more decline.
The losers were more than the gainers, as out of 103 active issues, 21 companies registered gains and 38 went down, while 44 companies stayed glued to their previous levels. Fauji Fertiliser improved by Rs 4.74, Arif Habib Corporation gained Rs 1.25, PPL appreciated by Rs 1.09, SME Leasing was up by Re 1.00 and Fatima Fertiliser gained Rs 0.96.
In the minus column, Engro Corporation lost Rs 5.34, Pakistan Oilfields declined by Rs 3.00, ICI Pakistan depreciated by Rs 1.47, MCB Bank was down by Rs 1.24 and Nishat Mills lost Rs 11.0. Fatima Fertiliser was the market leader whose 448,633 shares changed hands, followed by Arif Habib Corporation with trading of 217,914 shares.