KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended Thursday’s session sharply lower as heightened volatility, weak investor sentiment and sustained selling pressure across key sectors overshadowed select gains in heavyweight stocks, pushing major benchmark indices into negative territory.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index closed at 181,456.34 points, down 1,113.48 points, or 0.61 percent, from the previous session. Trading remained volatile throughout the day, with the index touching an intraday high of 183,717.54 points before slipping to a low of 180,783.63 points, reflecting uncertainty and cautious positioning by market participants.
On the broader index front, the BRIndex100 closed at 19,515.75, down 79.22 points, or 0.40 percent, with total volume clocking in at 631.21 million shares.
Meanwhile, the BRIndex30 registered a steeper decline of 452.88 points, or 0.73 percent, to settle at 61,981.66, as turnover stood at 331.44 million shares.
According to the Topline Sales Desk, select index heavyweights—Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), and Atlas Honda Limited (ATLH)—provided meaningful support to the benchmark, jointly contributing 266 points.
However, this support proved insufficient as heavy losses in United Bank Limited (UBL), Engro Holdings (ENGROH), Systems Limited (SYS), MCB Bank Limited (MCB), and Engro Fertilizers Limited (EFERT) collectively shaved 622 points off the index, decisively tilting the balance in favor of bears.
Liquidity conditions weakened further during the session. Ready market turnover declined to 820.04 million shares, compared with 1.03 billion shares traded in the previous session, while the value of shares traded fell sharply to Rs45.98 billion from Rs65.96 billion.
As a result, total market capitalization contracted to Rs20.54 trillion, down from Rs20.63 trillion, translating into an erosion of approximately Rs92.8 billion in investor wealth during the day.
Market breadth figures reinforced the bearish tone. In the ready market, only 150 companies closed higher, while 289 ended lower and 43 remained unchanged, out of a total of 482 traded companies.
Trading activity in the ready market remained concentrated in a handful of stocks.
Hascol Petroleum Limited topped the volume chart, with a turnover of 62.65 million shares, closing at Rs 20.64. Media Times Limited followed with 43.66 million shares, closing at Rs 8.15, while Nishat Chunian Power Limited recorded a volume of 36.70 million shares, ending the day at Rs 71.02.
On the gainers’ side, Atlas Honda Limited posted a strong increase of Rs 117.71, closing at Rs1,791.17, while Khyber Textile Mills Limited also registered a notable gain, rising Rs91.98 to close at Rs1,784.75.
On the downside, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) led the losers, plunging Rs1,046.67 to close at Rs20,539.99, exerting pressure on overall market sentiment.
Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited also ended sharply lower, declining Rs176.82 to settle at Rs9,773.17, amid sustained selling activity.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 25,309.95, down 251.42 points, or 0.98 percent, with a total turnover of 2.88 million shares, as automobile stocks remained under pressure.
The BR Cement Index also ended lower at 13,776.50, shedding 83.78 points, or 0.60 percent, with volume recorded at 53.39 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index remained among the worst performers, falling 578.54 points, or 1.00 percent, to close at 57,312.76, amid a turnover of 58.37 million shares, reflecting continued selling in key banking stocks.
Similarly, the BR Power Generation and Distribution Index declined by 215.12 points, or 0.75 percent, to settle at 28,418.75, with trading volume of 78.80 million shares.
In contrast, the BR Oil and Gas Index emerged as the lone bright spot, rising 74.63 points, or 0.48 percent, to close at 15,554.90, supported by relatively strong turnover of 98.99 million shares, in line with gains in select exploration and production stocks.
Meanwhile, the BR Technology and Communication Index recorded the steepest percentage decline, falling 57.78 points, or 1.35 percent, to end at 4,209.33, despite heavy trading activity of 140.01 million shares, highlighting persistent selling pressure in technology-related names.
Overall, the session was marked by intense intraday volatility, broad-based sectoral weakness, declining liquidity, and negative market breadth, as losses in banking, fertilizer, and technology stocks outweighed selective gains in oil, gas, and automobile heavyweights, keeping investor sentiment cautious.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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