KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended Thursday’s session in the red as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of the long weekend, with escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East triggering a surge in global crude oil prices and dampening risk appetite across the market.
BRIndex100 closed at 17,021.23 points, losing 178.94 points or 1.04 percent, with total volume recorded at 234.72 million shares. BRIndex30 also declined by 876.74 points or 1.44 percent to close at 59,951.02 points, with traded volume standing at 146.50 million shares.
The KSE-100 Index closed at 152,740.38 points, declining by 1,551.88 points or 1.01 percent compared to the previous close of 154,292.26 points. The index traded within a range of 153,322.97 points to 150,728.18 points during the session, reflecting persistent selling pressure and limited recovery attempts throughout the day.
According to Topline Securities, investors maintained a cautious approach during the last trading session before the extended weekend, as the benchmark index remained under pressure throughout the day. The pessimism was attributed to heightened geopolitical risks following Israel’s attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field and Iran’s retaliatory strike on Qatar’s LNG facility, developments that pushed crude oil prices sharply higher and negatively affected overall market sentiment.
Top negative contributions to the index were recorded from Engro Holdings, United Bank Limited, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, MCB Bank Limited, and Engro Fertilizers, which collectively dragged the benchmark down by 640 points.
Overall market activity in the ready market also moderated. Total traded volume stood at 326.64 million shares, down from 397.47 million shares in the previous session, while traded value declined to Rs19.40 billion from Rs22.35 billion. Market capitalization also contracted to Rs17.07 trillion compared to Rs17.25 trillion previously, reflecting the bearish undertone.
Market breadth turned decisively negative. In the ready market, out of 474 traded companies, 153 advanced, 261 declined, and 60 remained unchanged.
Among the most actively traded companies in the ready market, Wasl Mobility (R) led the volumes chart with 40.36 million shares, closing at Rs0.79. Bank of PunjabXD followed with 22.78 million shares, closing slightly lower at Rs25.88, while First National Equities traded 22.03 million shares to close at Rs1.25.
Among companies reflecting increase in rates, Supernet Technologies Limited surged by Rs115.51 to close at Rs1,379.35, while Blessed Textiles Limited gained Rs69.52 to settle at Rs764.67. On the declining side, Sazgar Engineering Works Limited fell by Rs44.46 to close at Rs1,811.95, while Hoechst Pakistan Limited declined by Rs38.24 to settle at Rs3,953.19.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index declined by 186.58 points or 0.81 percent to close at 22,786.34 points with a turnover of 2.58 million shares. The BR Cement Index fell by 98.40 points or 0.97 percent to settle at 10,009.18 points with a turnover of 20.85 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index lost 475.37 points or 0.90 percent to close at 52,545.59 points with a turnover of 45.21 million shares, while the BR Power Generation and Distribution Index declined by 202.97 points or 0.80 percent to settle at 25,155.83 points with a turnover of 30.88 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index decreased by 170.11 points or 1.23 percent to close at 13,637.85 points with a turnover of 19.96 million shares, while the BR Technology and Communication Index slipped by 29.49 points or 0.90 percent to settle at 3,251.26 points with a turnover of 25.98 million shares.
The overall session reflected investor caution and profit-taking amid heightened geopolitical risks and surging global oil prices, leading to broad-based selling pressure across sectors and market segments as participants preferred to reduce exposure ahead of the extended trading break.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments