KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended the first trading session of the week on a negative note, as cautious investor sentiment prevailed amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index plunged by 1,742 points to close at 172,197 on Monday, down from 173,939 in the previous session on Friday. During the day, the index hit an intraday high of 174,523.76 points and a low of 169,226.56 points.
Meanwhile, the BRIndex100 dropped by 591.29 points, or 3 percent, to settle at 19,125.61, compared to 19,716.90 in the previous session, with a total traded volume of 1.075 billion shares. The BRIndex30 opened at 71,310.20 points and closed at 70,528.26 points, marking a decline of 781.94 points, or 1.1 percent, from the previous close. Total volume at BRIndex30 stood at 660.443 million shares.
The market capitalization fell by Rs 189 billion to reach Rs 19.060 trillion. Out of 488actives scrips, 138 closed in positive and 319 in negative while the value of 31 stocks remained unchanged.
B.O. Punjab was the volume leader with 120.85 million shares and closed at Rs 36.60followed by Unity Foods that closed at Rs 11.40 with 92.47 million shares. K-Electric ranked third with share trading of 85.68 million shares and it closed at Rs 7.89.
Khyber Textile Mills Limited and Sitara Chemical Industries Limited were the top gainers increasing by Rs 144.69 and Rs 78.28 respectively to close at Rs1,591.58 and Rs861.11,while Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited and Allawasaya Tex. & Finishing Mills Ltd were the top losers declining by Rs 142.50 and Rs 129.00 respectively to close at Rs 9,495.34 andRs 1,411.00.
Analysts at Topline said that the local bourse commenced trading on a subdued note on Monday, reversing the previous session’s upward momentum, with the benchmark index declining to an intraday low of 4,712 points.
Investor sentiment remained cautious amid escalating geopolitical tensions. Concerns intensified following reports that the United States seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran signalled that no further round of talks is currently planned, they added.
Earlier indications of potential diplomatic engagement, including the possibility of a U.S. delegation visiting Islamabad, were overshadowed by these developments.Despite this, the market failed to stage a sustained rebound and ultimately closed in negative territory.
Index-heavy stocks, including FFC, HBL, HUBC, LUCK, and ENGROH, remained under significant selling pressure, collectively dragging the benchmark index down by 905 points.Market activity remained modest, with total traded volume recorded at 1,296 million shares, while turnover stood at Rs. 65.3 billion. BOP led the volume chart, with 120 million shares traded.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 26,412.64, down 78.5 points (0.30 percent), with a total turnover of 5.98 million.The BR Cement Index closed at 11,964.14, declining by 288.2 points (2.35 percent), with a total turnover of 41.32 million.
The BR Commercial Banks Index closed at 58,482.71, falling sharply by 2,074.73 points (3.43 percent), with a total turnover of 178.04 million.The BR Power Generation & Distribution Index closed at 28,546.38, losing 710.14 points (2.43 percent), with a total turnover of 139.39 million.
The BR Oil & Gas Index closed at 15,141.38, down 35.78 points (0.24 percent), with a total turnover of 89.81 million. The BR Tech. & Communication Index closed at 3,718.27, decreasing by 59.43 points (1.57 percent), with a total turnover of 124.37 million.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026