KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a sharp and broad-based decline on Monday, as reflecting heightened investor anxiety amid escalating geopolitical uncertainty and lack of progress in the US–Iran talks held in Islamabad.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index plunged by 6,600.05 points or 3.95 percent to close at 160,591.33 points as compare to 167,191.38. Index traded within a wide range during the session, touching an intraday high of 163,612.12 points and a low of 160,158.92 points, highlighting intense volatility throughout the trading day.
The BRIndex100 also reflected the broader bearish sentiment, closing at 18,021.70 points, marking a decline of 863.33 points or 4.57 percent, with total traded volume of 641.76 million shares. Similarly, the BRIndex30 dropped by 3,587.89 points to close at 63,007.25 points, with a total volume of 501.13 million shares.
Topline Securities, in its market review, stated that the KSE-100 Index, registered a sharp decline in a highly volatile session as uncertainty surrounding the lack of progress in US–Iran talks and concerns over a potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz pushed global oil prices higher, triggering panic selling across the board. The report added that selling pressure remained concentrated in index-heavy stocks including Engro Holdings, United Bank Limited, Fauji Fertilizer Company, Lucky Cement, and Meezan Bank, which cumulatively dragged the benchmark down by 2,414 points.
Market participation also reflected a cautious stance, with total ready market volume declining to 743.23 million shares compared to 875.54 million shares in the previous session, while traded value fell sharply to Rs 34.29 billion from Rs 46.65 billion. In the futures market, 174.58 million shares were traded with a value of Rs 8.56 billion, compared to 205.96 million shares worth Rs 10.58 billion in the previous session.
Overall market capitalization witnessed substantial erosion, declining to Rs 17.80 trillion from Rs 18.47 trillion, translating into a loss of approximately Rs 670.71 billion in a single session.
Market breadth remained heavily negative, with 377 companies declining against only 66 advancing, while 40 remained unchanged out of a total of 483 companies traded in the ready market.
Trading activity was dominated by WorldCall Telecom, which emerged as the volume leader with 176.63 million shares, closing at Rs 1.47. Other active stocks included Sui Southern Gas Company with 60.24 million shares closing at Rs 25.15, Bank of Punjab with 50.05 million shares closing at Rs 28.79, First National Equities with 33.60 million shares closing at Rs 1.31, and K-Electric Limited with 25.47 million shares closing at Rs 7.26.
Among individual stocks, Blessed Textiles Limited recorded a significant gain of Rs 98.41 to close at Rs 1,082.46, while Khairpur Sugar Mills Limited increased by Rs 47.82 to settle at Rs 526.02. On the downside, PIA Holding Company Limited B declined sharply by Rs 789.54 to close at Rs 17,414.00, while Nestle Pakistan Limited lost Rs 147.77 to settle at Rs 7,355.77.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index declined by 774.22 points or 3.16 percent to close at 23,726.92 points with a turnover of 2.59 million shares. The BR Cement Index fell sharply by 694.22 points or 5.84 percent to 11,191.41 points with a volume of 46.66 million shares. The BR Commercial Banks Index lost 2,226.82 points or 3.87 percent to settle at 55,360.96 points with a turnover of 68.67 million shares.
The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index dropped by 1,072.05 points or 3.92 percent to close at 26,306.39 points with a volume of 63.17 million shares, while the BR Oil and Gas Index declined by 455.53 points or 3.15 percent to 14,020.36 points with a turnover of 93.85 million shares. The BR Technology and Communication Index also recorded a significant decline of 146.32 points or 3.93 percent to close at 3,579.51 points with a total turnover of 211.07 million shares.
Overall, Monday’s session reflected a sharp deterioration in investor confidence, driven by geopolitical uncertainty, rising global oil prices, and lack of clarity on international diplomatic developments, resulting in aggressive selling across all major sectors and a significant erosion in market capitalization.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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