KARACHI: Bears dominated the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday as investors stayed cautious amid prevailing uncertainty and awaited clearer signals on geopolitical developments.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index declined by 2,406 points or 1.40 percent, to close at 169,173.38 points on Thursday compared to 171,579.31 points on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the BRIndex100 opened at 18,996.94 points and slipped to close at 18,733.15 points, losing 263.79 points or 1.39 percent. Total volume reached 978 million shares, with F. Nat. Equities leading activity. The BRIndex30 also remained under pressure, falling 1,243.45 points or 1.8 percent to close at 67,860.48 points with share trading volume of 683.226 million.
Analysts said bears returned to center stage as tensions flared around the Strait of Hormuz, where reports of blockades and vessel seizures rattled global sentiment. Meanwhile, Islamabad continues to await Iranian and American officials for expected peace talks, keeping uncertainty elevated.
Key index heavyweights, including FFC, UBL, MEBL, PPL, and BAFL, remained under sustained pressure, collectively shaving off 942 points from the index. The market capitalization fell by Rs 257 billion to Rs 18.714 trillion. Out of 483 actives scrips, 164 closed in positive and 286 in negative while the value of 33 stocks remained unchanged.
Trading activity was relatively increase, with total volumes clocking in at 1,321 million shares up from 1054 million a day earlier. F. Nat. Equities topped the volume chart, with 286 million shares traded. Hascol Petrol ranked second with 77.77 million shares and closed at Rs20.51, followed by Kohinoor Spining that closed at Rs 6.43 with share trading of 69.43 million shares.
Thal Industries Corporation Limited and Nestle Pakistan Limited were the top gainers increasing by Rs 67.11 and Rs 41.40 respectively to close at Rs 738.22 and Rs 7,416.05, while Khairpur Sugar Mills Limited and Sazgar Engineering Works Limited were the top losers declining by Rs 101.52 and Rs 89.24 respectively to close at Rs 913.65 and Rs 2,041.28.
Analysts said that bears dominated the trading floor on Thursday as investors remained cautious, awaiting positive developments on the geopolitical front. During the day, the index fell to a low of 168,416 points, down 3,163 points, before partial recovery driven by buying at lower levels.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 25,396.81, down 521.25 points or 2.01 percent, with a turnover of 2.26 million shares. The BR Cement Index declined to 11,378.53, shedding 241.40 points or 2.08 percent, on a turnover of 20.69 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index closed at 57,812.92, losing 842.40 points or 1.44 percent, with a turnover of 65.81 million shares. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index fell to 28,578.06, down 287.32 points or 1 percent, with 59.04 million shares traded.
The BR Oil and Gas Index ended at 14,850.78, down 193.68 points or 1.29 percent, posting a turnover of 97.29 million shares. The BR Tech & Communication Index also closed lower at 3,648.76, shedding 43.57 points or 1.18 percent, with a turnover of 80.95 million shares.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026