KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a broad-based decline on Wednesday also as persistent selling pressure and futures rollover activity kept investors cautious, dragging key benchmark indices lower amid reduced ready-market activity and volatile intraday movements.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at 164,626.29 points, losing 1,632.25 points or 0.98 percent compared with the previous close of 166,258.55 points. The index touched an intraday high of 168,191.65 points before falling to a low of 164,229.36 points, reflecting heightened volatility and alternating bouts of buying and selling pressure during the session.
On Wednesday, BRIndex100 closed at 18,245.16 points, showing a decline of 100.75 points or 0.55 percent compared with the previous close. Total volume on BRIndex100 stood at 530.08 million shares. The BRIndex30 closed at 64,912.09 points, gaining 571.25 points or 0.89 percent over the previous close. Total volume on BRIndex30 amounted to 425.30 million shares.
According to the Topline Securities sales desk, the KSE-100 Index closed the session posting a decline amid sustained market volatility, with the benchmark trading within a broad range during the day as investor confidence remained subdued. Heavyweight stocks including UBL, ENGROH, PPL, LUCK, and DGKC emerged as major laggards and collectively pulled the index down by 928 points, reinforcing the bearish tone of the market.
Trading activity in the ready market weakened compared with the previous session. Total turnover declined to 619.63 million shares from 687.96 million shares, indicating reduced investor participation. The total traded value dropped significantly to Rs29.25 billion from Rs38.47 billion recorded a day earlier, highlighting cautious trading behavior.
Overall market capitalization in the ready market declined to Rs18.67 trillion, compared with Rs18.81 trillion previously, translating into a contraction of approximately Rs143 billion in market value.
Market breadth remained strongly negative, reflecting widespread selling pressure across the board. Out of 483 companies traded in the ready market, 143 companies closed in positive territory, 278 declined, and 62 remained unchanged, indicating that losers significantly outnumbered gainers.
Among individual stocks, K-Electric Limited dominated trading volumes in the ready market with a turnover of 99.79 million shares. The stock closed at Rs7.71. Cnergyico PK ranked second on the volume chart with 70.33 million shares, closing at Rs7.17. F. Nat. Equities recorded a turnover of 33.42 million shares and closed at Rs1.48.
On the gainers’ side, Nestle Pakistan Limited emerged as the top performer, gaining Rs75.21 to close at Rs7,979.50, followed by Premium Textile Mills Limited, which rose Rs43.10 to settle at Rs489.60. On the losing side, PIA Holding Company Limited-B recorded the largest decline of Rs586.33 to close at Rs16,141.00, while Khyber Textile Mills Limited dropped Rs95.89 to settle at Rs1,490.47.
Sector-wise performance on BR indices remained mixed. The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 25,555.76 points, declining by 212.96 points or 0.83 percent, with a total turnover of 4.47 million shares. The BR Cement Index closed at 11,569.48 points, registering a sharp decline of 265.94 points or 2.25 percent, with total turnover of 29.04 million shares, reflecting selling pressure in cement sector stocks.
The BR Commercial Banks Index closed at 57,803.86 points, gaining 271.36 points or 0.47 percent, with a total turnover of 73.67 million shares, making it one of the few sectors to end the session in positive territory. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index closed at 26,182.14 points, declining by 174.93 points or 0.66 percent, with total turnover of 117.71 million shares, reflecting active trading in power sector stocks.
The BR Oil and Gas Index closed at 13,599.60 points, falling 211.60 points or 1.53 percent, with total turnover of 25.40 million shares, in line with the weakness observed in energy-related shares. The BR Technology and Communication Index closed at 3,442.94 points, declining by 46.18 points or 1.32 percent, with total turnover of 79.22 million shares, indicating continued pressure in technology and telecom stocks.
Overall, the trading session reflected persistent market volatility, rollover-related activity in the futures segment, and cautious investor behavior. The decline in benchmark indices, negative market breadth, falling market capitalization, and reduced ready-market turnover indicated a consolidation phase, with investors adopting a defensive stance despite selective interest in high-volume stocks.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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