KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained under intense selling pressure on Thursday as persistent volatility in international oil prices and ongoing global uncertainty triggered broad-based declines across sectors.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index closed at 152,907.97 points, falling by 5,405.48 points or 3.41 percent compared with the previous close of 158,313.45 points. The benchmark remained under pressure throughout the session, touching an intraday high of 157,591.24 points before sliding to a low of 152,668.08 points, reflecting sustained bearish sentiment.
BRIndex100 closed at 17,102.42 points, declining by 665.18 points or 3.74 percent, with total traded volume of 444.60 million shares. Similarly, BRIndex30 dropped sharply by 2,554.06 points or 4.11 percent to close at 59,646.04 points, with traded volume standing at 300.16 million shares.
According to Topline Market Review, the market experienced sustained selling pressure throughout the day, with the benchmark predominantly trading in negative territory as investors remained cautious amid persistent volatility in global oil prices and heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
Topline noted that index-heavy stocks including United Bank Limited, Fauji Fertilizer Company, Engro Holdings, Lucky Cement, and Hub Power Company acted as major drags on the benchmark, collectively pulling the index down by approximately 2,138 points during the session.
The sell-off erased significant market value in a single session. Total market capitalization fell from Rs17.58 trillion to Rs17.05 trillion, translating into a loss of approximately Rs534.93 billion.
Ready market volume declined to 521.63 million shares, compared to 612.36 million shares in the previous session, while traded value dropped to Rs27.14 billion from Rs34.60 billion, indicating reduced participation as investors adopted a wait-and-see approach.
The day’s breadth statistics painted a strongly negative picture. Out of 484 traded companies, only 71 advanced, while 356 declined and 57 remained unchanged, highlighting the depth of selling pressure.
K-Electric dominated the volumes chart with 96.74 million shares, closing sharply lower at Rs7.06. First National Equities followed with 33.02 million shares, closing at Rs1.18. Unity Foods traded 25.12 million shares and closed at Rs8.26, while WorldCall Telecom recorded 23.21 million shares to settle at Rs1.19.
Despite the overall negative trend, a few stocks managed to close in positive territory. Nestle Pakistan Limited gained Rs48.00 to close at Rs7,748.00, while Thal Industries Corporation Limited advanced by Rs41.99 to settle at Rs669.96. On the losing side, Service Industries Limited led the decliners, dropping Rs75.16 to close at Rs1,395.58, followed by Khyber Textile Mills Limited, which fell Rs70.79 to settle at Rs1,250.21.
All major BR sectoral indices ended in the red. The BR Automobile Assembler Index fell by 609.17 points or 2.67 percent to close at 22,245.75 points, with turnover of 2.45 million shares. The BR Cement Index declined by 457.94 points or 4.30 percent to settle at 10,204.10 points, with a traded volume of 37.42 million shares, reflecting selling pressure in cement stocks.
The BR Commercial Banks Index shed 1,905.03 points or 3.53 percent to close at 52,102.29 points, with turnover of 41.11 million shares, mirroring weakness in major banking scrips. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index registered one of the steepest sectoral declines, losing 1,109.63 points or 4.21 percent to close at 25,230.13 points, while recording the highest sectoral turnover of 125.29 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index dropped by 430.67 points or 3.08 percent to settle at 13,560.99 points, whereas the BR Technology and Communication Index declined by 126.51 points or 3.59 percent to close at 3,399.43 points, with traded volume of 53.74 million shares.
Analysts believe the local market’s near-term trajectory will remain closely linked to global oil price movements, geopolitical developments, and foreign portfolio flows. The sharp correction has brought valuations lower, but continued uncertainty in international markets may keep investors cautious, potentially leading to further volatility in the sessions ahead.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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