Tehran Stock Exchange�s overall index snapped a three-day winning streak on Saturday trade amid ambiguities concerning the ongoing nuclear talks.

TSE data illustrates that most indices closed in the red. TEDPIX edged down 45.4 points or 0.07 percent to close at 64,812.2. The first market index lost 69.68 points or 0.15 percent to 46,698.2. The second market index gained 137.75 points or 0.1 percent to 134,133.7. The free float index ticked down 56.92 points or 0.08 percent to 74,344.5. The industry index slipped 74.9 points or 0.14 percent to 53,017.7 and the blue-chip index edged up 0.9 point or 0.03 percent to 2,962.7.

TSE also witnessed low trade volume and value. More than 410 million shares changed hands valued at $26.8 million to post about 90 percent retreat compared to Wednesday.

The majority of listed firms failed to outperform, with refining and petrochemical sectors on top. Bandar Abbas Oil Refining Company with the PE ratio of 2.3 and 52.42 points in negative contribution was the biggest laggard. Kharg Petrochemical Company and Mapna Group with around 23 and 10 points took the second and third place respectively.

Bank Mellat with 15.56 points surpassed the positive contributors to the TEDPIX. Bank Parsian and Mobin Petrochemical Complex came next.

IFB Benchmark Inches Up

Saturday trade at Iran Fara Bourse saw a tepid surge in the benchmark IFX, with more than 81 million shares changing hands valued at $21.7 million.

Similar to Tehran Stock Exchange, IFB recorded a seesaw trade, however, the main index edged up 0.31 point or 0.04 percent to keep hovering at 735, IFB reported.

Jam Petrochemical Complex and Middle East Mines and Mineral Industries Development Holding Company had the most positive contribution to IFX performance.

The highest rise in value was registered for Tehran Oil Refining Company�s rights offerings, Balast Company and Novin Insurance. Minoo Group, Tehran Oil Refining Company and Northwest Housing Investment Company recorded the highest decline in their shares� value.

Mortgage-backed securities were traded between 690,000 and 720,000 rials. Etemad Fund registered the highest daily trade volume among other listed exchange-traded funds at IFB with 539,930 shares.

The fixed-income market witnessed the trade of 51,580 leasing bonds.

Most Gov�t Shares Gone Public

More than $2.33 billion worth of governmental shares have been transferred to public hands since 2000, of which $15.4 billion or 65.9 percent have been carried out via TSE, SENA reported.

The report added that $4.09 billion worth of securities have gone public through Iran Fara Bourse while $3.82 billion worth of securities were put up for auction and $56.6 million were transferred through negotiations.

By Financial Tribune