KARACHI: Renewed geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran, coupled with a sharp rise in international crude oil prices, weighed on investor sentiment at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday, although strong activity in selected energy stocks provided some support.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index fell 720.83 points, or 0.41 percent, to close at 176,975.68, compared with the previous session’s close of 177,696.51. The index moved between an intraday high of 178,138.69 and a low of 176,944.91 points.
The BRIndex100 declined 76.92 points, or 0.39 percent, to 19,526.15, compared with its previous close, while total volume amounted to 723.37 million shares. The BRIndex30, however, moved against the broader benchmark trend, gaining 301.66 points, or 0.42 percent, to 72,400.85. Its turnover stood at 553.10 million shares.
According to Topline Securities, United Bank Limited (UBL), Systems Limited (SYS), Habib Bank Limited (HBL), Lucky Cement (LUCK) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) were the principal negative contributors, collectively weighing down the KSE-100 Index by around 755 points.
The magnitude of these losses more than offset the support provided by other market segments and underlined the impact of heavyweight stocks on the benchmark’s performance.
Despite the negative index performance, trading activity in the Ready Market increased substantially. A total of 503 companies remained active, of which 169 advanced, 302 ended the day in loss.
Ready Market turnover rose to 937.27 million shares, compared with 658.33 million shares in the preceding session, an increase of about 278.94 million shares, or roughly 42.4 percent. The value of trading also increased to Rs39.13 billion from Rs31.45 billion, representing an increase of approximately Rs7.68 billion, or 24.4 percent.
At the same time, total market capitalisation declined to Rs19.83 trillion from Rs19.89 trillion previously, a reduction of about Rs55.23 billion, or 0.28 percent.
Energy counters nevertheless dominated the Ready Market’s volume charts. Cnergyico PK led trading with 293.18 million shares. The stock closed at Rs15.46, compared with Rs14.41 previously.
Waves Home (R) followed with 71.23 million shares. It closed at Rs0.76.
Meanwhile Bank of Punjab recorded 52.29 million shares. It closed at Rs34.99, compared with Rs34.97 previously.
The day’s largest absolute price gain in the Ready Market was recorded by Unilever Pakistan Foods, which surged Rs143.62 to Rs25,674.98. Attock Refinery Limited followed, gaining Rs93.41 to close at Rs1,197.49.
On the losing side, Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited suffered the largest absolute decline, falling Rs49.89 to Rs9,250.11, while Nestle Pakistan Limited declined Rs47.45 to Rs7,473.54.
The BR Tech. & Comm. Index fell 67.70 points, or 1.89 percent, to 3,518.01, with 74.61 million shares traded.
The BR Cement Index dropped 151.05 points, or 1.20 percent, to 12,392.69, with turnover of 22.34 million shares, while the BR Commercial Banks Index declined 434.22 points, or 0.70 percent, to 62,001.27 on 66.59 million shares.
The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index was comparatively resilient, easing just 12.63 points, or 0.05 percent, to 26,933.77, with 49.49 million shares changing hands.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index gained 27.90 points, or 0.12 percent, to 23,972.55, with turnover of 4.00 million shares. The BR Oil and Gas Index also edged higher, adding 2.70 points, or 0.02 percent, to 15,370.21 on 27.70 million shares.
The session therefore combined a clear deterioration in headline market sentiment with considerably higher Ready Market activity. Analysts argued that the market’s direction remained closely tied to developments surrounding US-Iran tensions and international oil prices, with heavyweight banking, technology, cement and other large-cap stocks bearing much of the selling pressure.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026