Stocks drift lower amid lack of triggers.

KARACHI -- Stocks ended a two-day winning streak on Thursday as the KSE- index settled slightly in the negative with a minor decline of 7.96 points (.5 per cent) at 34,34.65.

Trading remained choppy throughout the session with the index making intraday high and low by 8 and 5 points. Bulls and bears struggled in search of direction and fresh triggers.

The perception of shifting sands on the local political front; the volatile regional marAkets and slump in international oil prices as the hopAes of demand outweighed the worries over a long lasting pandemic that could delay global opening of economies.

Further depreciation of the rupee against the dollar dampened sentiments. InvesAtors also tread cautiously close to the rollover week. The KSE- index suffered mainly from the decline in exploration and production stocks which were mainly in the red. Prices trimmed in OGDC, Pakistan Petroleum and Pakistan Oilfields. The oil and gas marketing companies were gainers with Attock Petroleum and Shell closing at their upper circuits.

During the day, reports of trade surplus added a bit of excitement but selling pressure kept prices...