LSE index down 49.01 points

Equities on Friday failed to maintain upward slide on the Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) and registered declines amid decreased trading turnover because of the investors' conscious behaviour who remained on the sideline. The LSE-25 index lost 49.01 points and was ended at 3114.76 points against 3163.77 points of Thursday, while transaction volume was squeezed to 1.921 million shares, as compared to previous volume of 2.572 million shares.
The market opened on a depressed sign and kept on sliding throughout the day mainly because of lacking interest on the part of investors who stayed away from the buying course. However, most of them preferred offloading ahead of weekend to secure their position that resulted selling pressure in oil sector shares like Attock Refinery, OGDC, Pakistan Oil Fields, PSO and PPL.
Similarly, Fauji Fertiliser, Engro Corporation and Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim of the fertiliser sector and some other companies including MCB Bank, KSB Pumps, Nishat Mills and Lotte Pakistan PTA were also succumbed of profit taking. On the contrary, Pioneer Cement, Hira Textile Mills, Fatima Fertiliser and Dewan Salman Fibres resisted pressure and ended with marginal gains.
The declining stocks were far ahead of advancing ones, as of 112 companies, 9 posted gains, 39 stayed in negative zone, while values of 64 companies remained unchanged at their previous closing levels. Shezan International gained Rs 2.65, SME Leasing was improved by Re 1.00, while Pioneer Cement and Soneri Bank were up by 94-paisa and 75-paisa, respectively.
Attock Refinery lost Rs 5.78, OGDC was declined by Rs 3.50, Pakistan Oil Fields was depreciated by Rs 2.54, while MCB Bank and PSO were down by Rs 2.06 and Rs 2.00, respectively. Silk Bank was the market leader whose 524,890 shares changed hands followed by Fatima Fertiliser with trading of 205,337 million shares.