KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained under pressure for a second consecutive session on Wednesday as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a sharp rise in international crude oil prices dampened investor sentiment, triggering broad-based selling across key sectors.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index shed 1,580.90 points, or 0.89 percent, to settle at 176,042.99 points compared to the previous day’s close of 177,623.88 points. The market traded in the red throughout the session, touching an intraday high of 176,935.03 points before falling to an intraday low of 175,631.74 points, reflecting heightened investor caution amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.
Business Recorder indices mirrored the bearish sentiment prevailing across the broader market, with all major sectoral benchmarks ending in negative territory as selling pressure intensified in blue-chip stocks. The BRIndex100 declined by 198.33 points, or 1.01 percent, to close at 19,343.38 points, with total turnover of 461.88 million shares. Similarly, the BRIndex30 dropped by 1,034.01 points, or 1.46 percent, to settle at 69,907.60 points on a trading volume of 212.40 million shares.
According to Topline Securities, the local bourse witnessed another volatile trading session as investors remained wary of the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the resulting spike in international crude oil prices.
“The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed another volatile trading session on Wednesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index extending its decline as investor sentiment remained subdued amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a sharp rise in international crude oil prices. Heightened risk aversion triggered broad-based selling across major sectors, outweighing selective buying interest,” the brokerage said.
It added that United Bank Limited (UBL), Lucky Cement (LUCK), Engro Holdings (ENGROH), Hub Power Company (HUBC), and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) remained the largest drags on the benchmark index, collectively wiping out around 669 points.
Overall trading activity weakened considerably on the ready counter. Total volume in the Ready Market declined to 574.08 million shares from 958.01 million shares recorded in the previous session. The value of traded shares also dropped sharply to Rs25.37 billion compared to Rs41.57 billion a day earlier.
Market capitalization on the Ready Market shrank by Rs172.37 billion to Rs19.778 trillion from Rs19.951 trillion in the previous session, reflecting the broad-based decline in equity prices.
Market breadth remained firmly negative. Of the 495 companies traded on the Ready Market, only 129 advanced, while 330 declined and 36 closed unchanged.
Cnergyico Pakistan remained the most actively traded stock on the ready counter, with 58.66 million shares changing hands. The stock settled lower at Rs10.76 per share against the previous close of Rs10.95. It was followed by Siddiqsons Tin, which witnessed trading in 50.22 million shares and hit its upper price limit to close at Rs10.18. WorldCall Telecom ranked third with 48.95 million shares traded, closing lower at Rs1.20.
Among individual stocks, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited emerged as the top gainer, rising by Rs177.08 to close at Rs25,480.00 per share, followed by Khyber Textile Mills Limited, which gained Rs90.12 to settle at Rs2,088.41 per share. On the losing side, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) suffered the steepest decline, shedding Rs495.32 to close at Rs17,674.68 per share, while Khairpur Sugar Mills Limited fell by Rs133.71 to Rs1,203.44 per share.
Among the sectoral indices tracked by Business Recorder, the BR Cement Index emerged as the worst performer, falling 249.44 points, or 1.97 percent, to close at 12,388.09 points on turnover of 37.88 million shares. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index lost 412.64 points, or 1.46 percent, to finish at 27,788.23 points with 17.33 million shares traded.
The BR Oil and Gas Index slipped by 154.91 points, or 1.04 percent, to close at 14,670.78 points on turnover of 22.95 million shares, while the BR Commercial Banks Index declined by 613.53 points, or 0.99 percent, to settle at 61,650.71 points with trading volume of 38.81 million shares.
The BR Tech & Communication Index also remained under pressure, falling 35.22 points, or 0.95 percent, to 3,670.57 points on turnover of 98.86 million shares, whereas the BR Automobile Assembler Index posted a relatively modest decline of 90.47 points, or 0.38 percent, to close at 23,797.65 points with 4.82 million shares changing hands.
Analysts said investor sentiment is likely to remain cautious in the near term as geopolitical developments in the Middle East continue to influence global oil prices and overall risk appetite.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments