KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained firmly under selling pressure on Wednesday as elevated international oil prices and persistent regional geopolitical tensions dented investor sentiment, prompting widespread profit-taking across key sectors. Concerns over macroeconomic stability, external account pressures and the risk of prolonged disruption in global oil markets, weighed on the market throughout the session.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index plunged 1,370.52 points, or 0.81 percent, to close at 168,021.80 points against Tuesday’s close of 169,392.33 points. The index remained volatile during the session, touching an intraday high of 169,382.01 points and a low of 167,849.70 points.
The bearish trend was reflected across the sectoral indicators compiled by Business Recorder. The BRIndex100 closed at 18,387.45 points, down 183.91 points, or 0.99 percent, with total turnover of 288.067 million shares. The BRIndex30 declined 969.76 points, or 1.44 percent, to close at 66,391.14 points, with a total volume of 136.460 million shares.
Topline market reviews noted that market sentiment remained cautious as investors opted to lock in gains amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty and concerns over the potential impact of elevated oil prices on inflation, the external account and overall macroeconomic stability. Selling pressure was further intensified by local institutional investors, who aggressively trimmed their positions amid fears that prolonged regional tensions could disrupt global oil supplies.
FFC, NBP, ENGROH, HBL and LUCK emerged as the major negative contributors, collectively dragging the KSE-100 Index down by approximately 706 points.
Trading activity in the ready market presented a mixed picture, with traded volume declining while total value increased. Ready-market volume stood at 356.138 million shares against 372.016 million shares in the previous session, showing a decline of 15.878 million shares, or 4.27 percent. In contrast, traded value increased to Rs19.487 billion from Rs17.210 billion, up Rs2.276 billion, or 13.23 percent.
Aggregate market capitalization declined by Rs135.635 billion to Rs18.721 trillion from Rs18.857 trillion in the preceding session, reflecting the broad-based erosion in share prices.
Market breadth was distinctly negative, with 121 companies advancing, 320 declining and 55 remaining unchanged out of 496 active issues in the ready market.
WorldCall Telecom led activity in the ready market with 40.030 million shares. The stock closed the day at Rs1.02 against Rs1.06. Cnergyico PK followed with 21.570 million shares, closing at Rs12.80 against Rs12.81. Media Times Ltd recorded 19.619 million shares, finishing at Rs7.65 against Rs7.70.
In ready-market price movements, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited posted the largest gain, rising Rs107.12 to close at Rs24,041.83, followed by Pakistan Services Limited, which gained Rs46.04 to settle at Rs1,337.43. On the downside, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) recorded the steepest fall, declining Rs696.00 to close at Rs16,000, while Buxly Paints Limited shed Rs42.59 to end at Rs633.43.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index fell 332.89 points, or 1.45 percent, to 22,664.10 points on turnover of 2.515 million shares. The BR Cement Index declined 141.72 points, or 1.22 percent, to 11,498.27 points, with turnover of 32.743 million shares. The BR Commercial Banks Index decreased 436.68 points, or 0.75 percent, to 58,060.50 points, with 36.430 million shares traded.
The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index dropped 84.79 points, or 0.33 percent, to 25,702.78 points on volume of 22.345 million shares. The BR Oil and Gas Index fell 71.45 points, or 0.49 percent, to 14,622.89 points on turnover of 16.944 million shares, while the BR Tech & Comm Index declined 42.50 points, or 1.26 percent, to 3,322.68 points, with total volume of 71.329 million shares.
Analysts said that according to the market outlook, geopolitical developments and elevated oil prices will remain key drivers of market direction in the near term.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026