KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained under heavy selling pressure on Monday, extending its losing streak for a fourth consecutive Monday as geopolitical tensions over the weekend and cautious investor participation dragged the Index. The KSE-100 Index closed at 146,842.97 points, shedding 4,864.54 points or 3.21 percent compared with the previous close of 151,707.52 points. The index traded between an intraday high of 151,813.61 points and a low of 144,656.97 points, indicating persistent selling pressure throughout the session.
The BRIndex100 closed at 16,253.79 points, down 698.71 points or 4.12 percent, with total turnover recorded at 423.34 million shares. The BRIndex30 settled at 55,439.29 points, declining by 3,431.57 points or 5.83 percent, with trading volume standing at 278.52 million shares.
According to Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, Monday’s bleeding continued as broad-based selling dominated the session, marking the fourth consecutive Monday, excluding the Pakistan Day holiday, in which the market witnessed significant declines driven largely by adverse geopolitical developments over the weekend.
He noted that while Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund reached a staff-level agreement on the third review of the Extended Fund Facility and the second review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility—providing a degree of underlying support to sentiment—the positive macro news failed to offset prevailing risk aversion among investors.
Najib further highlighted that major index laggards including Fauji Fertilizer Company, Engro Holdings, Meezan Bank, Lucky Cement, United Bank, Habib Bank, National Bank, Pakistan Petroleum, Pakistan State Oil, and Engro Fertilizers collectively eroded approximately 2,440 points from the benchmark during the session.
Despite the negative trend, trading activity in the ready market increased compared to the previous session. Total traded volume rose to 529.13 million shares from 435.51 million shares, while traded value jumped to Rs29.60 billion from Rs23.99 billion, indicating that the decline was driven by active selling rather than lack of liquidity.
However, the sell-off significantly eroded market value, with total market capitalization falling to Rs16.33 trillion from Rs16.89 trillion, reflecting a loss of approximately Rs558.37 billion in a single session.
The session’s breadth statistics highlighted broad-based weakness. Out of 481 companies traded in the ready market, only 51 advanced, while 379 declined and 51 remained unchanged.
K-Electric led the volumes chart with 56.53 million shares, closing at Rs6.62. Bank of Punjab XD followed with 35.92 million shares, closing at Rs24.26. Dost Steels traded 31.66 million shares and closed marginally higher at Rs5.42, while WorldCall Telecom recorded 26.94 million shares to settle at Rs1.16.
Among companies reflecting increase in rates, Blessed Textiles Limited surged by Rs79.91 to close at Rs879.01, while Shahmurad Sugar Mills Limited gained Rs22.76 to settle at Rs392.76. On the downside, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) recorded the largest decline, dropping Rs704.78 to close at Rs15,500, followed by Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited, which fell Rs628.50 to settle at Rs23,952.50, reflecting heavy selling in high-priced consumer stocks.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 21,481.36 points, falling 545.29 points or 2.48 percent, with turnover of 2.15 million shares.
The BR Cement Index dropped sharply to 9,513.51 points, losing 547.46 points or 5.44 percent, with traded volume of 31.23 million shares as cement stocks faced persistent selling.
The BR Commercial Banks Index ended at 50,038.92 points, down 1,867.24 points or 3.60 percent, with total turnover of 74.48 million shares, reflecting heavy institutional offloading in banking counters.
The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index closed at 24,557.03 points, declining 588.70 points or 2.34 percent, with volume of 81.62 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index settled at 12,970.21 points, down 298.53 points or 2.25 percent, with trading activity of 44.63 million shares.
The BR Tech & Communication Index finished at 3,287.99 points, losing 133.26 points or 3.90 percent, with turnover recorded at 65.24 million shares.
According to Ali Najib, developments in the Middle East will remain a key trigger for market direction, with unpredictable geopolitical news flow likely to shape the near-term trajectory of the KSE-100 Index.
While progress in IMF negotiations offers macroeconomic stability, sustained foreign interest and easing geopolitical tensions will be required to restore investor confidence and halt the current bearish momentum.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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