KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended the week on a weak note on Friday as investors resorted to widespread profit-taking ahead of the weekend amid lingering geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, dragging the benchmark KSE-100 Index lower by more than 2,300 points after two consecutive sessions of strong gains.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index declined by 2,320.78 points, or 1.30 percent, to settle at 175,802.79 points compared with the previous close of 178,123.57 points. The market remained volatile throughout the session, touching an intraday high of 178,694.49 points before heavy selling pushed the index to an intraday low of 175,790.63 points.
Business Recorder indices mirrored the negative trend. The BRIndex100 closed at 19,299.72 points, losing 272.71 points, or 1.39 percent, on a turnover of 510.22 million shares. Meanwhile, the BRIndex30 declined by 1,199.66 points, or 1.69 percent, to close at 69,867.09 points with a total turnover of 330.27 million shares.
Commenting on the day’s trading activity, Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, said the market traded on a mixed note during the day, with selective buying seen during the morning session before profit-taking emerged in the latter half as investors booked gains ahead of the weekend. He said elevated geopolitical tensions also weighed on investor sentiment following fresh exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran, prompting a cautious stance among market participants.
According to Najib, ENGROH, Systems Limited (SYS), UBL, OGDC, PPL, HUBC, MEBL, HBL and Lucky Cement remained under selling pressure and collectively shaved 1,105 points off the benchmark index.
Overall trading activity moderated compared with the previous session. Ready market turnover declined to 621.02 million shares from 736.96 million shares, while traded value dropped to Rs29.88 billion against Rs34.61 billion recorded a day earlier. The sell-off wiped out more than Rs249.5 billion from market capitalization, which fell to Rs19.79 trillion from Rs20.04 trillion.
Market breadth remained decisively negative. Of the 497 companies traded on the ready market, only 101 advanced, while 367 declined and 29 remained unchanged.
Among the most actively traded stocks, Cnergyico PK led the volume chart with 86.49 million shares, closing higher at Rs9.81. It was followed by TPL Properties with 62.55 million shares, closing at Rs12.10, and Pakistan Refinery with 38.58 million shares, which ended the day at Rs44.59.
On the gainers’ list, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) rose by Rs329.17 to close at Rs18,102.67, while Khyber Textile Mills Limited gained Rs138.05 to settle at Rs2,199.38. On the losing side, Khairpur Sugar Mills Limited declined by Rs207.94 to Rs1,871.47, while Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited shed Rs151.33 to close at Rs9,248.79.
Sector-wise, the BR Tech & Communication Index led the decline, falling by 76.48 points, or 2.03 percent, to 3,688.50 points on turnover of 59.53 million shares. The BR Oil and Gas Index lost 233.21 points, or 1.55 percent, to settle at 14,806.13 points on turnover of 43.93 million shares.
The BR Cement Index dropped 202.88 points, or 1.61 percent, to close at 12,376.10 points with 36.45 million shares traded. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index declined by 482.87 points, or 1.71 percent, to 27,820.36 points on turnover of 33.35 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index fell 763.06 points, or 1.23 percent, to 61,325.25 points with turnover of 29.77 million shares, while the BR Automobile Assembler Index slipped 112.70 points, or 0.47 percent, to close at 23,622.12 points on turnover of 1.67 million shares.
Market participants expect sentiment to remain cautious in the coming sessions as investors closely monitor geopolitical developments in the Middle East. However, analysts believe the ongoing corporate earnings season and relatively attractive valuations in selected blue-chip stocks may continue to provide support to the market despite heightened external uncertainties.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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