Bearish sentiments prevailed on the Lahore Stock Exchange on Tuesday and the equities registered losses amid decreased trading turnover due to lacking buying interest on the part of investors. The LSE-25 index was declined by 36.76 points and was closed at 3459.37 against 3496.13 of Monday while transaction volume was squeezed to 1.278 million shares as compared to 2.511 million shares traded a day earlier.
The market was opened on a depressed note and continued to decline throughout the day due to lacking investors' interest who remained on the sideline. Engro Corporation, Fauji Fertiliser, OGDCL, Bank Alfalah, Lafarge Pakistan Cement and Fauji Cement resisted pressure and ended with marginal gains.
On the contrary, Lucky Cement, D G Khan Cement, Adamjee Insurance, Engro Foods, Nishat Mills, National Bank, Bank of Punjab, Askari Bank, Arif Habib Corporation, Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim and Dawood Hercules Corporation, Engro Polymer and Chemical, KESC, Lotte Pakistan PTA, Byco Petroleum remained under selling pressure.
The declining stocks were ahead of the advancing ones, as out of a total of 88 active issues, nine companies posted gains, 29 went down, while 50 companies stayed glued to their previous levels. Mari Gas gained Rs 2.01, Engro Corporation was improved by 39-paisa while Fauji Fertiliser and OGDCL were up by 37-paisa and 10-paisa respectively.
In the minus column, Lucky Cement lost Rs 3.25, Attock Refinery was declined by Rs 2.5, Adamjee Insurance shed Rs 1.74 while Engro Foods was down by Rs 1.04. Lafarge Pakistan Cement with trading of 382,534 shares topped the volume leaders followed by DG Khan Cement with 177,430 shares.