KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) came under renewed selling pressure on Thursday as negative global cues, rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and a surge in international oil prices triggered broad-based liquidation, dragging benchmark indices sharply lower and eroding a significant portion of the previous session’s gains.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index closed at 152,011.26 points, registering a decline of 3,500.30 points or 2.25 percent compared with the previous close of 155,511.57 points. The market remained under pressure throughout the session, with the index trading between an intraday high of 152,272.64 points and a low of 150,022.44 points, reflecting persistent selling across sectors.
The BRIndex100 closed at 16,874.44 points, declining by 423.63 points or 2.45 percent, with total traded volume of 289.34 million shares, while the BRIndex30 settled at 57,922.36 points, down 1,889.62 points or 3.16 percent, with turnover of 210.89 million shares.
According to Topline Securities, the local bourse remained under pressure, tracking negative momentum in global markets after remarks by United States President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing Iran conflict dented investor sentiment. Escalating geopolitical tensions, coupled with a sharp rise in oil prices, kept market participants cautious throughout the session, reinforcing a risk-off stance.
The report noted that selling pressure prevailed across the board, dragging the index lower, with major negative contributions coming from heavyweight stocks including United Bank, Fauji Fertilizer Company, MCB Bank, Hub Power Company, Pakistan Petroleum, Oil and Gas Development Company, and Lucky Cement, which cumulatively eroded approximately 1,589 points from the benchmark index.
Overall market activity declined significantly compared with the previous session, reflecting cautious investor participation. Total traded volume in the ready market dropped to 352.27 million shares from 670.87 million shares, while traded value fell to Rs19.51 billion from Rs43.98 billion. Market capitalization also contracted to Rs16.88 trillion from Rs17.22 trillion, indicating a loss of approximately Rs331.87 billion in a single session.
Market breadth remained decisively negative, with only 99 companies closing higher compared to 323 declining stocks, while 59 remained unchanged out of a total of 481 traded companies in the ready market.
K-Electric Limited once again led the volumes chart with 56.14 million shares, closing at Rs7.11. WorldCall Telecom followed with 17.56 million shares, closing at Rs1.18, while Bank of PunjabXD recorded 16.95 million shares to settle at Rs25.19.
Among companies reflecting increase in rates, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited posted a strong gain of Rs992.88 to close at Rs25,094.05, while Khairpur Sugar Mills Limited rose by Rs24.54 to settle at Rs269.94. On the downside, PIA Holding Company LimitedB declined by Rs482.50 to close at Rs15,017.50, while Bhanero Textile Mills Limited fell by Rs88.27 to settle at Rs806.73.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 22,296.46 points, down 371.97 points or 1.64 percent, with volume of 1.45 million shares. The BR Cement Index fell 312.64 points or 2.98 percent to 10,178.21 points, with turnover of 29.79 million shares, while the BR Commercial Banks Index declined 1,364.57 points or 2.54 percent to 52,328.44 points, with 37.28 million shares traded.
The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index dropped 747.92 points or 2.91 percent to 24,933.59 points, with turnover of 77.42 million shares, and the BR Oil and Gas Index slipped 349.11 points or 2.56 percent to 13,268.92 points, with volume of 19.52 million shares. The BR Tech and Communication Index also closed lower at 3,388.78 points, down 64.48 points or 1.87 percent, with turnover of 46.92 million shares.
Overall, the session reflected a clear shift toward risk aversion, with investors opting to reduce exposure amid global uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions. Market participants are expected to remain cautious in the near term, with international developments, particularly in the Middle East and global oil markets, likely to continue dictating the direction of the local bourse.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments