Bearish sentiments dominated on the Lahore Stock Exchange on Friday and the equities registered declines amid improved trading turnover on account of selling pressure. The LSE-25 index was marginally improved by 8.24 points and was ended at 3539.78 against 3531.54 while transaction volume was increased to 16.445 million shares as compared to 11.288 million shares traded a day earlier.
The market was opened on a depressed note and kept on sliding during both the trading sessions. The investors preferred offloading ahead of weekend to secure their positions. As a result, most of the blue chips like PSO, Pakistan Oil Fields, Attock Refinery, PPL, OGDC, Engro Corporation, Fauji Fertiliser, Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim, Adamjee Insurance, National Bank, Bank of Punjab, NIB Bank, Maple Leaf Cement, D.G. Khan Cement and Pervez Ahmed Securities registered declines.
However, Pioneer Cement, Cherat Cement, Karachi Electric Supply Company, Southern Electric Power, Japan Power, Genertech Pakistan, Pak Electron, Lafarge Pakistan Cement, Pakistan Reinsurance and Dewan Salman Fibre recorded gains.
The losers were more than the gainers, as out of a total of 91 active issues, 18 companies posted gains, 41 stayed in negative zone while 32 companies were ended at their previous closing. Among gainers, Pak Suzuki was improved by Rs 2.68, Habib Bank gained Rs 2.17, while Pioneer Cement and Karachi Electric Supply Company were appreciated by Rs 1.00 each.
In the minus column, PSO lost Rs 11.06, Pakistan Oil Fields was declined by Rs 4.99, Engro Corporation was depreciated by Rs 4.03, Attock Refinery shed Rs 3.52 while Adamjee Insurance and Fauji Fertiliser were down by Rs 2.22 and Rs 1.76 respectively. Lafarge Pakistan Cement with trading of 6.480 million shares topped the volume leaders followed by Fauji Cement with 2.015 shares.