KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a sharp downturn on Tuesday as renewed selling pressure gripped the market, wiping out the previous session’s strong gains. All major indices ended deep in the red amid profit-taking and dampened investor sentiment, leading to a broad-based correction across key sectors.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index fell sharply by 3,667.90 points, or 2.27 percent, to close at 157,870.50, compared to 161,538.41 recorded on Monday. The index oscillated between an intraday high of 161,516.75 and a low of 157,765.92, reflecting pronounced volatility throughout the session.
On Tuesday, BRIndex100 closed at 16,594.67, down 419.87 points or 2.47 percent from the previous close. The total volume stood at 665.09 million shares. Similarly, BRIndex30 settled at 52,468.29, showing a decline of 1,777.79 points or 3.28 percent compared to the previous close. The total volume amounted to 393.81 million shares.
According to market insights from Topline Securities, the KSE-100 Index concluded the day on a downbeat note following a sharp correction of nearly 3,667 points. The brokerage observed that investor sentiment turned distinctly bearish amid escalating geopolitical tensions triggered by recent bomb blasts in India and Islamabad, Pakistan. These developments rattled market confidence and prompted broad-based selling pressure. Heavyweight constituents including ENGRO, OGDC, HUBC, FFC, and LUCK were among the leading decliners, collectively erasing around 999 points from the benchmark index.
Despite the steep decline, trading activity remained relatively robust as both investors and institutions adjusted their positions. Ready market turnover increased to 836.43 million shares from 783.29 million shares, while traded value rose to Rs38.08 billion compared to Rs36.37 billion a day earlier.
The overall market capitalization shrank to Rs18.08 trillion from Rs18.47 trillion, reflecting a net loss of around Rs391 billion during the session.
Market breadth turned decisively negative as declining stocks far outnumbered gainers. In the ready market, 484 companies were traded, out of which 364 closed lower, 79 advanced and 41 remained unchanged.
Among the volume leaders, First National Equities topped the chart with 77.17 million shares, gaining to close at Rs22.61. K-Electric Ltd followed with 66.87 million shares, ending lower at Rs5.12. WorldCall Telecom recorded 46.81 million shares, closing at Rs1.70.
On the price extremes, PIA Holding Company Limited-B emerged as the day’s top gainer, rising by Rs821.44 to close at Rs24,201.62, while ZIL Limited increased by Rs44.00 to settle at Rs484.00. On the losing side, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited dropped Rs299.99 to close at Rs28,700.00, and Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited declined Rs80.00 to finish at Rs9,432.00.
BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 24,652.33 with a net negative change of 451.66 points or a percentage change of 1.8 on a total turnover of 3.65 million shares. BR Cement Index finished the day at 12,125.42 with a net negative change of 341.15 points or 2.74 percent while the turnover remained 33.89 million shares.
BR Commercial Banks Index concluded at 48,005.05 while losing 812.53 points or 1.66 percent and the total turnover remained 84.94million shares. BR Power Generation and Distribution Index also ended in negative and closed at 24,738.02 with a net negative change of 659.74 points that equals to 2.6 percent while the total turnover remains 76.05 million shares.
BR Oil and Gas Index closed at 13,307.65 with a net negative change of 402.77 points or a percentage change of 2.94 and the total turnover remained 51.51 million shares. BR Tech & Communication Index closed at 3,753.70 with a net negative change of 112 points or 2.9 percent while the total turnover of 97.27 million shares.
Overall, analysts noted that the session reflected a marked shift in sentiment, with geopolitical developments weighing heavily on market confidence. Despite healthy volumes, selling pressure persisted across blue-chip counters as investors sought to reduce exposure following recent highs.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025