KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed Tuesday’s session marginally lower as sustained selling pressure offset select gains in fertilizer kept investor sentiment.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index ended the session down by 186.83 points, or 0.10 percent, to close at 182,153.55 points, compared with the previous close of 182,340.38 points. The index witnessed wide intraday movement, touching a high of 183,216.67 points and a low of 181,499.29 points, underscoring persistent two-way activity amid cautious investor positioning.
On Tuesday, the BRIndex100 closed at 20,618.31 points, registering a decline of 66.21 points, or 0.32 percent, compared with the previous session, with a total turnover of 941.08 million shares. Meanwhile, the BRIndex30 fell sharply by 1,496.18 points, or 1.92 percent, to close at 76,347.30 points, on a trading volume of 796.72 million shares.
According to Topline Securities, the local bourse blew hot and cold during the session as bulls failed to sustain early momentum. The index opened firm and initially rallied, but selling pressure quickly emerged, flipping the tape into the red. The brokerage noted that bears dominated the second half of the session, ultimately pulling the benchmark into negative territory by the close.
Heavyweight selling in Habib Bank Limited (HBL), TRG Pakistan, K-Electric Limited (KEL), Askari Bank Limited (AKBL), and Bank Alfalah Limited (BAFL) collectively shaved 461 points off the index. However, selective buying in Engro Holdings (ENGROH), Lucky Cement (LUCK), Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), and Hub Power Company (HUBC) provided partial support, together contributing 738 points, though this was insufficient to reverse the overall downward trend.
Investor wealth declined during the session as total market capitalization fell to Rs20.63 trillion, compared with Rs20.71 trillion in the previous session, reflecting a net erosion of approximately Rs76.4 billion due to falling prices.
Despite the softer close, trading activity remained elevated. In the Ready Market, total turnover surged to 1.06 billion shares, up from 931.36 million shares in the previous session. However, the traded value declined sharply to Rs37.88 billion, compared with Rs58.88 billion previously, indicating heavier activity in lower-priced stocks.
Market breadth remained decisively negative, highlighting underlying weakness. In the Ready Market, 153 stocks advanced, 280 declined, and 49 remained unchanged, out of 482 traded companies.
Trading volumes in the Ready Market were heavily concentrated in power, energy, telecom, and financial stocks. K-Electric Limited topped the volume chart, with 253.68 million shares traded, but closed sharply lower at Rs8.63. Cnergyico Pakistan followed with 189.38 million shares, closing higher at Rs8.25 while WorldCall Telecom recorded 117.05 million shares, ending at Rs1.70.
On the gainers’ board, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited emerged as the top performer, surging by Rs336.00 to close at Rs26,836.00, while Al-Ghazi Tractors Limited gained Rs33.97, settling at Rs445.96. Conversely, heavy losses were recorded in select high-priced stocks, with Khyber Textile Mills Limited plunging Rs146.90 to close at Rs1,473.09, and Nestlé Pakistan Limited shedding Rs86.61 to end at Rs8,178.65.
Sector-wise performance under the BR indices remained largely negative. The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 28,372.05 points, down 113.82 points, or 0.40 percent, with a total turnover of 5.63 million shares. In contrast, the BR Cement Index ended higher, rising 53.13 points, or 0.40 percent, to close at 13,216.00 points, supported by volumes of 13.11 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index posted a notable decline, falling 833.88 points, or 1.31 percent, to settle at 63,047.00 points, with a total turnover of 65.97 million shares. Similarly, the BR Power Generation and Distribution Index closed lower at 29,150.60 points, down 297.43 points, or 1.01 percent, amid heavy trading of 273.00 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index slipped 36.08 points, or 0.23 percent, to close at 15,563.05 points, with a turnover of 25.24 million shares. Meanwhile, the BR Technology and Communication Index ended in the red, declining 42.57 points, or 1.03 percent, to 4,084.88 points, on robust volumes of 185.53 million shares.
Analysts noted that overall, Tuesday’s trading session at the Pakistan Stock Exchange reflected a cautious and volatile environment, characterized by heavy volumes, negative market breadth, and selective stock-specific activity.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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