KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed marginally lower on Monday as profit-taking in key heavyweight stocks during the second half of the session erased early gains, leaving the Index almost unchanged.
The KSE-100 Index declined by 119.74 points, or 0.07 percent, to settle at 181,310.28 points against Friday’s close of 181,430.02 points. The benchmark remained volatile during the session, hitting an intraday high of 182,347.51 points and a low of 180,820.23 points, reflecting a range of 1,527.28 points.
Business Recorder indices also reflected a mixed trend. The BRIndex100 declined 12.07 points, or 0.06 percent, to close at 20,010.72 points on turnover of 801.27 million shares, while the BRIndex30 surged 879.01 points, or 1.22 percent, to 72,999.97 points on volume of 524.82 million shares.
Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, said the market witnessed a range-bound session, with early gains wiped out in the latter half as investors opted for profit-taking.
On the index contribution front, PPL, ATRL, MEBL, OGDC and ENGROH collectively contributed 574 points to the benchmark, while HUBC, FFC, UBL, MARI and LUCK collectively eroded 791 points amid selective profit-taking.
Trading activity strengthened considerably on the Ready Market, with total volume rising to 917.27 million shares from 716.04 million shares in the previous session. Traded value increased to Rs44.81 billion from Rs34.10 billion.
Ready Market capitalisation also edged up to Rs20.258 trillion from Rs20.238 trillion previously.
Market breadth remained slightly in favour of the bears. Of the 496 companies traded on the Ready Market, 225 closed higher, 234 declined and 37 remained unchanged.
Cnergyico PK dominated Ready Market activity, with 173.55 million shares changing hands. The stock closed at the upper limit at Rs13.13, compared with the previous close of Rs11.94.
Bank of Punjab followed with 61.61 million shares and closed at Rs35.28. TPL Properties traded 50.02 million shares and gained to Rs15.68, while Unity Foods recorded 42.10 million shares and closed at Rs12.04.
On the price front, Attock Refinery Limited was the top gainer, rising Rs71.60 to Rs1059.47 per share, followed by National Refinery Limited, which gained Rs44.58 to Rs492.95.
Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited suffered the largest decline, falling Rs236.88 to Rs9,233.65, while Blessed Textiles Limited shed Rs80.14 to close at Rs918.86.
Among sectoral indices, the BR Oil and Gas Index rose 155.62 points, or 1.04 percent, to 15,147.07 points, while the BR Commercial Banks Index edged up 24.40 points, or 0.04 percent, to 64,148.40 points.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index gained 33.18 points, or 0.14 percent, to 24,205.69 points. In contrast, the BR Cement Index declined 26.76 points, or 0.21 percent, to 12,869.08 points, while the BR Tech. & Comm. Index fell 19.23 points, or 0.51 percent, to 3,756.39 points.
The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index was the biggest sectoral laggard, plunging 1,166.53 points, or 4.06 percent, to close at 27,581.64 points.
Analysts say market participants are likely to remain focused on corporate earnings, macroeconomic developments and foreign flows in the near term. Strong corporate results and improving macroeconomic fundamentals could support the broader market, while profit-taking at elevated levels may continue to keep the benchmark volatile.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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