KARACHI: Bearish sentiment gripped the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday as escalating US-Iran tensions and elevated global crude prices triggered profit-taking across index-heavy sectors.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index declined by 993.92 points, or 0.57 percent, to close at 172,642.16 points against Monday’s close of 173,636.08 points. The index opened the session under pressure and moved to an intraday high of 173,736.20 points before falling to a low of 171,490.63 points, reflecting a wide trading range of 2,245.57 points.
The BRIndex100 fell 131.12 points, or 0.68 percent, to close at 19,014.06 points, with total turnover of 576.337 million shares, compared to 19,145.18 points in the previous session. The BRIndex30 declined by 386.13 points, or 0.55 percent, to 69,546.50 points from 69,932.63 points, with total volume of 265.476 million shares.
According to Topline Securities, the local bourse remained under pressure as the ongoing US-Iran conflict and elevated international oil prices continued to weigh on investor sentiment. Concerns over the potential impact on inflation, the external account and the import bill prompted investors to book profits following recent market gains, with selling particularly visible across index-heavy sectors and keeping the broader market in the red.
Topline Securities said UBL, LUCK, MEBL, NBP and PPL were among the major negative contributors, collectively dragging the KSE-100 Index down by approximately 485 points. On the other hand, PSEL, MCB and ATRL provided some support, collectively contributing around 199 points to the index.
Despite the decline in benchmark indices, activity in the ready market increased from the previous session. Ready-market turnover rose to 722.624 million shares worth Rs27.943 billion, compared with 679.189 million shares valued at Rs23.692 billion on Monday.
Market capitalisation, however, contracted by Rs138.984 billion to Rs19.296 trillion from Rs19.435 trillion in the previous session, reflecting the broad decline in equity prices.
Market breadth remained heavily negative, with 359 companies closing lower against only 101 gainers, while 36 remained unchanged out of 496 companies active in the ready market.
Cnergyico PK topped the ready-market volume chart with 103.841 million shares. The stock closed at Rs13.32, up from its previous close of Rs13.02.
Media Times Ltd followed with 103.045 million shares. It finished the day at Rs6.92 compared to Rs7.66 previously.
Pak Refinery traded 41.088 million shares, closed at Rs91.16, up from Rs88.84.
In ready-market price movements, Pakistan Services Limited posted the largest absolute gain, advancing Rs89.11 to close at Rs980.23. Buxly Paints Limited followed with a gain of Rs56.79, closing at Rs1,144.84. On the downside, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited suffered the largest absolute decline, falling Rs356.43 to Rs24,849.50, while PIA Holding Company Limited B dropped Rs342.14 to Rs16,881.98.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index dropped 384.99 points, or 1.62 percent, to 23,316.55 points against 23,701.54 points previously, with turnover of 2.181 million shares.
The BR Cement Index fell 144.38 points, or 1.19 percent, to 12,000.36 points from 12,144.74 points, with 38.359 million shares changing hands.
The BR Commercial Banks Index declined by 380.16 points, or 0.63 percent, to 59,894.15 points compared to 60,274.31 points in the previous session, with volume reaching 27.686 million shares.
The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index lost 95.75 points, or 0.36 percent, to close at 26,324.07 points against 26,419.82 points, with turnover of 12.491 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index decreased by 73.03 points, or 0.49 percent, to 14,981.50 points from 15,054.53 points, with total volume of 25.142 million shares.
The BR Tech. & Comm. Index was also in negative territory, falling 37.44 points, or 1.07 percent, to 3,465.01 points against 3,502.45 points, while trading volume stood at 168.475 million shares.
Analysts say the session therefore ended with a clear deterioration in market breadth despite higher ready-market turnover and futures activity.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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