KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained under pressure on Tuesday as investors stayed cautious amid uncertainty surrounding regional geopolitical developments, while profit-taking and other index-heavy sectors extended losses for a second consecutive session.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index closed in the red, shedding 778.95 points, or 0.44 percent, to settle at 177,692.92 points compared to the previous close of 178,471.87 points. The market remained range bound throughout the session, touching an intraday high of 179,405.56 points and an intraday low of 177,674.37 points as investors trimmed positions in several blue-chip sectors.
BRIndex100 closed at 19,773.43 points, down by 44.74 points, or 0.23 percent, with a total turnover of 544.09 million shares. Meanwhile, BRIndex30 ended at 72,630.22 points, up by 47.66 points, or 0.07 percent, on a turnover of 371.62 million shares.
According to Mubashir Anis Naviwala of JS Global, selling pressure persisted at the PSX as investors remained cautious amid uncertainty over regional geopolitical developments. He said profit-taking was witnessed in banking, cement, fertilizer and other index-heavy sectors, while investors remained focused on geopolitical headlines and their potential impact on regional markets.
Trading activity in the regular market weakened further as ready market turnover declined to 765.14 million shares from 807.47 million shares recorded in the previous session. Similarly, the value of traded shares fell to Rs35.44 billion compared to Rs36.17 billion a day earlier.
Market capitalization also contracted, declining to Rs19.935 trillion from Rs19.976 trillion previously.
Overall market breadth remained negative. In the ready market, 146 companies closed higher, 308 declined and 39 remained unchanged out of 493 active companies.
Trading activity in the ready market was led by K-Electric, which recorded a turnover of 83.43 million shares and closed at Rs8.42. WorldCall Telecom followed with 71.24 million shares and closed at Rs1.25, while Sui South Gas recorded a turnover of 32.35 million shares and settled at Rs32.94.
On the price performance front, Pakistan Engineering Company Limited emerged as the top gainer in absolute terms, rising by Rs50.97 to close at Rs945.75, followed by Tandlianwala Sugar Mills Limited, which gained Rs46.31 to settle at Rs534.01. On the downside, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) shed Rs470 to close at Rs17,530, while Khairpur Sugar Mills declined by Rs.112.78 to settle at Rs2,297.36.
Among the sectoral BR indices, the BR Oil and Gas Index emerged among the best performers, rising by 80.23 points, or 0.52 percent, to close at 15,606.22 points with a turnover of 99.92 million shares.
The BR Cement Index also remained positive, adding 28.74 points, or 0.22 percent, to settle at 12,821.30 points on a turnover of 41.48 million shares.
Likewise, the BR Power Generation and Distribution Index gained 33.67 points, or 0.11 percent, to close at 29,640.74 points with a turnover of 105.49 million shares.
On the downside, the BR Commercial Banks Index declined by 658.97 points, or 1.10 percent, to settle at 59,029.32 points on a turnover of 26.78 million shares.
The BR Tech and Communication Index fell by 30.82 points, or 0.78 percent, to close at 3,898.26 points despite recording a hefty turnover of 129.32 million shares, while the BR Automobile Assembler Index lost 232.50 points, or 0.96 percent, to settle at 24,011.18 points on a turnover of 2.41 million shares.
Analysts expect sentiment to remain headline-driven in the near term, with movements in international oil prices, geopolitical developments in the Middle East and investor flows into blue-chip stocks likely to determine the market’s short-term direction, while upcoming domestic economic triggers will also remain in focus.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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