KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended Wednesday’s session in negative territory as investors remained cautious amid the absence of meaningful progress on the United States-Iran diplomatic front, prompting broad-based selling across key sectors and keeping market momentum fragile throughout the day.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index lost 831.13 points, or 0.49 percent, to close at 170,190.64 points compared with 171,021.77 points recorded a day earlier. Despite opening on a relatively firm note, the market failed to sustain momentum and remained under pressure during most of the session. The index touched an intraday high of 171,624.45 points and a low of 169,790.34 points before settling in the red.
BRIndex100 closed at 18,713.67 points, down 122.72 points or 0.65 percent, with total turnover of 359.94 million shares. BRIndex30 settled at 68,168.40 points, losing 503.68 points or 0.73 percent, with turnover of 232.76 million shares.
According to Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, investor sentiment remained subdued as uncertainty continued to surround prospects for a durable US-Iran peace agreement. He said that with no clear direction emerging regarding a potential diplomatic breakthrough, investors largely stayed on the sidelines, resulting in a range-bound yet negative trading session.
Najib noted that Lucky Cement, United Bank Limited, Meezan Bank, Engro Holdings, Hub Power Company, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Habib Bank Limited, National Bank of Pakistan, Fauji Fertilizer Company and Bank Alfalah emerged as the major laggards, collectively dragging the benchmark index lower by around 550 points.
Overall market capitalization contracted to Rs18.864 trillion from Rs18.940 trillion recorded in the previous session, reflecting a decline of approximately Rs76 billion in the value of listed equities. Regular market turnover increased slightly to 551.95 million shares from 550.79 million shares previously, although traded value declined to Rs23.76 billion compared with Rs27.44 billion a day earlier.
Market breadth strongly favored the bears. In the Ready Market, 183 coàmpanies advanced, 267 declined and 41 remained unchanged out of 491 active stocks.
Trading activity remained concentrated in a handful of actively traded stocks. Treet Battery Limited emerged as the volume leader with turnover of 46.64 million shares, closing at Rs10.79. Dewan Cement followed with 33.76 million shares and a closing price of Rs12.20. Sitara Petroleum ranked third with turnover of 25.24 million shares, closing at Rs20.13.
On the gainers’ board, PIA Holding Company Limited-B posted the highest increase, surging by Rs376.00 to close at Rs17,988.00, followed by The Thal Industries Corporation Limited, which gained Rs90.52 to settle at Rs1,022.24.
On the losing side, Khairpur Sugar Mills Limited registered the steepest decline, shedding Rs240.51 to close at Rs2,164.61, while Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited lost Rs137.97 to settle at Rs25,862.03.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 27,291.11 points, down 50.57 points or 0.18 percent, with turnover of 8.30 million shares. The BR Cement Index fell by 107.79 points, or 0.91 percent, to close at 11,750.70 points on turnover of 61.89 million shares. The BR Commercial Banks Index lost 305.37 points, or 0.53 percent, to settle at 57,281.40 points with volume of 21.78 million shares.
Likewise, the BR Power Generation and Distribution Index declined by 218.14 points, or 0.78 percent, to close at 27,632.24 points on turnover of 21.95 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index dropped 55.99 points, or 0.37 percent, to 14,903.41 points with trading volume of 58.61 million shares. In contrast, the BR Technology and Communication Index was the only major sectoral gainer, advancing 7.70 points, or 0.20 percent, to close at 3,868.44 points on turnover of 79.70 million shares
Looking ahead, Ali Najib said hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough continue to support underlying sentiment; however, uncertainty surrounding a durable US-Iran agreement is likely to keep market volatility elevated in the near term.
Market participants are expected to remain closely focused on geopolitical developments, international oil prices and any signals emerging from ongoing diplomatic engagements, which are likely to determine the direction of trading in the sessions ahead.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments