Stocks nosedive, KSE-100 sheds 3.4% amid rising Middle East tensions

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) observed selling pressure on Thursday, with the KSE-100 Index shedding over 5,400 points or 3.41% amid rising geopolitical uncertainty after Iran rejected a US-backed ceasefire proposal.

The market opened relatively stable and even saw a brief uptick in early trading, touching an intra-day high of 157,591.23, but this momentum quickly faded, and the index entered a consistent downward trajectory.

Selling intensified further during the final hours of trading, pushing the index to the intra-day low of 152,668.07, indicating panic selling.

At close, the benchmark index settled at 152,907.96, down by 5,405.48 points or 3.41%.

Iran rejected a US proposal aimed at ending the ongoing war, setting out five conditions for a ceasefire, including international recognition and guarantees of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that any halt to hostilities will occur solely on Tehran’s terms and timetable, state-run Press TV reported on Wednesday, citing a senior Iranian political-security official.

“Iran’s ‘high bar’ for ceasefire talks, demanding reparations and full control of the Strait, has made investors realise that a final deal is still far off,” said Behtari Capital.

Topline Securities said the market experienced sustained selling pressure throughout the day, with the index predominantly trading in negative territory as investors remained cautious amid persistent volatility in international oil prices and ongoing global uncertainty.

Key index-heavy stocks, including UBL, FFC, ENGROH, LUCK, and HUBC, acted as major drags on the market, collectively pulling the index down by approximately 2,138 points during the session, it added.

On Wednesday, PSX staged a powerful recovery as renewed diplomatic momentum in the Middle East and softening global oil prices triggered broad-based buying across sectors, lifting the KSE-100 Index by more than 4,300 points in one of the strongest single-day performances in recent weeks.

The KSE-100 Index settled at 158,313.45 points, gaining 4,347.08 points or 2.82%.

Globally, Asian stocks struggled for direction while the dollar held firm on Thursday as investors treaded ​cautiously amid dizzying developments in the Middle East, where Iran said it would weigh a U.S. proposal to ‌end the Gulf conflict.

The widening war has jolted global markets, sending oil prices soaring, reigniting inflation fears and scrambling global rate expectations.

It was a mixed picture in Asia in early trading,* with Japan’s Nikkei up 0.6% while South Korean stocks were down 1.2%. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged ​0.23% lower, set for a 8.7% decline in the month, its biggest monthly drop since October 2022.

The dollar held ​firm near recent highs and was on track for a 2% monthly gain, cementing its status as ⁠the markets’ preferred safe haven.

The latest comments by Iran suggested some willingness by Tehran to negotiate an end to the war if ​its demands were met. The U.S. sent a 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran that was originally brushed aside by Iranian officials.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani rupee registered marginal gain against the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Thursday. At close, the local currency settled at 279.20, a gain of Re0.01, against the greenback.

Volume on the all-share index declined to 521.63 million from 612.36 million recorded in the previous close.

The value of shares decreased to Rs27.14 billion from Rs34.60 billion in the previous session.

K-Electric Ltd was the volume leader with 96.74 million shares, followed by F. Nat.Equities with 33.02 million shares, and Unity Foods Ltd with 25.12 million shares.

Shares of 484 companies were traded on Thursday, of which 71 registered an increase, 356 recorded a fall, and 57 remained unchanged.