Mixed sentiments prevailed on the Lahore Stock Exchange on Tuesday and the equities moved both ways and finally settled in negative zone amid marginally improved trading turnover. The LSE-26 index lost 9.64 points and was closed at 3427.84 against 3437.48 of Monday, while transaction volume was increased to 1.459 million shares compared with 719,209 shares traded a day earlier.
The market was opened on a healthy sign and stayed in positive zone till mid day. However, sentiments could not remain intact, as investors started offloading to pocket the available margin. Fauji Fertiliser, Fauji Cement, D G Khan Cement, IGI Investment, Summit Bank, Askari Bank, Bank Alfalah and Dewan Farooq Motors were ended with marginal gains.
However, because of profit taking, a selling pressure was seen in Attock Refinery, Byco Petroleum, Adamjee Insurance, MCB Bank, National Bank, Bank of Punjab, Pioneer Cement and Engro Corporation. The losers were more than the gainers, as out of a total of 87 active issues, 14 companies registered gains, 22 posted losses while 51 companies stayed glued to their previous levels. Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim gained 34-paisa, Bank Alfalah was improved by 27-paisa while Lucky Cement and Fauji Cement were up by 20-paisa and 16-paisa respectively.
Attock Refinery lost Rs 2.67, Adamjee Insurance was declined by Rs 1.82, while MCB Bank and Engro Corporation were down by 87-paisa and 60-paisa respectively. NIB Bank with trading of 283,000 shares topped the volume leaders followed by Adamjee Insurance with 241,126 shares.