KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its losing streak on Thursday as investor sentiment remained fragile amid persistent uncertainty surrounding US-Iran developments and elevated international oil prices, triggering another volatile trading session dominated by selling in index-heavy stocks.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index closed lower by 952.30 points or 0.57 percent to settle at 166,498.84 points compared to 167,451.14 points recorded in the previous session. During the session, the market remained highly volatile, touching an intraday high of 168,528.87 points and a low of 166,398.90 points.
The BRIndex100 closed at 18,310.34 points, down 94.77 points or 0.51 percent from the previous close, with total traded volume standing at 503.313 million shares. The BRIndex30 settled at 66,274.66 points, declining 494.54 points or 0.74 percent, while total volume amounted to 220.617 million shares.
According to Topline Securities, the local bourse witnessed another volatile trading session as cautious investor sentiment prevailed amid the lack of tangible progress in ongoing negotiations and persistent uncertainty surrounding developments between the United States and Iran. Elevated international oil prices further weakened market confidence and kept overall sentiment fragile throughout the day.
Topline noted that the benchmark index swung sharply during trading before eventually settling lower. It said major index-heavy stocks, including United Bank Limited, Systems Limited, Bank Alfalah Limited, Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited, and Pakistan Petroleum Limited, remained under selling pressure and cumulatively dragged the benchmark index lower by 580 points.
Trading activity in the ready market improved in volume terms, with total turnover rising to 706.019 million shares from 684.901 million shares in the previous session. However, traded value declined to Rs19.922 billion from Rs21.741 billion. Market capitalization of the ready market also decreased to Rs18.475 trillion from Rs18.571 trillion, reflecting an erosion of approximately Rs95.54 billion.
Market breadth remained decisively negative as declining issues outpaced advancing stocks. Out of a total of 484 companies traded in the ready market, 293 closed in the red, 155 advanced, while 36 remained unchanged.
Among companies reflecting significant turnover in the ready market, Bunnys Limited led volumes with 115.352 million shares traded, closing at Rs7.08. Trust Brokerage followed with turnover of 62.760 million shares, closing unchanged at Rs2.00. Treet Battery Limited recorded turnover of 56.827 million shares and settled at Rs10.28.
Among gainers, PIA Holding Company LimitedB surged by Rs119.47 to close at Rs18,797.00, while Khairpur Sugar Mills Limited gained Rs119.04 to settle at Rs1,309.47. On the losing side, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited declined by Rs239.83 to close at Rs26,000.50, whereas Khyber Textile Mills Limited shed Rs20.97 to end at Rs1,564.03.
Sector-wise performance on the Business Recorder indices remained mixed but largely negative. The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 26,851.70 points, down 95.64 points or 0.35 percent, with turnover of 3.519 million shares. The BR Cement Index was an exception and rose by 11.60 points or 0.10 percent to settle at 11,394.62 points, with turnover reaching 20.901 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index declined sharply by 564.74 points or 1.01 percent to close at 55,419.49 points, with total turnover of 36.530 million shares. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index lost 85.04 points or 0.31 percent to settle at 27,518.84 points, recording turnover of 32.786 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index dropped 84.72 points or 0.57 percent to close at 14,757.89 points with turnover of 30.396 million shares, while the BR Tech & Communication Index declined by 40.18 points or 1.07 percent to 3,711.26 points, with turnover reaching 66.249 million shares.
Analysts said the market is likely to remain highly sensitive to geopolitical developments, particularly any progress or setback in US-Iran negotiations, while movement in global oil prices will continue to shape investor sentiment in the near term. They added that clarity on regional tensions and easing energy price concerns could help restore confidence and improve risk appetite at the local bourse.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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