KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) came under renewed selling pressure on Tuesday as rising global crude prices and persistent Middle East geopolitical tensions triggered a late-session sell-off, pushing the benchmark KSE-100 Index below the 170,000-point level.
The index fell 825.22 points, or 0.48 percent, to close at 169,600.41 points against Monday’s close of 170,425.62 points. The benchmark opened the session amid relatively stable trading and climbed to an intraday high of 170,944.35 points before coming under sustained selling pressure. It subsequently fell to an intraday low of 169,538.23 points and settled at 169,600.41 points.
The BRIndex100 closed at 18,675.08 points, down 95.82 points, or 0.51 percent, from its previous close of 18,770.90 points, with total turnover reaching 421.875 million shares. The BRIndex30 declined by 410.80 points, or 0.60 percent, to 67,823.14 points from 68,233.94 points, with volume recorded at 221.681 million shares.
According to the Topline Market Review, the market remained relatively stable around the 170,400–170,600 range during the early part of the session, but selling intensified after 2:00pm, eventually pushing the benchmark below the psychologically important 170,000-point threshold.
Topline said market sentiment remained cautious and risk-off amid continuing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East, while the rise in crude prices, with Brent crude trading around US$107 per barrel, added pressure because of concerns over Pakistan’s import bill, inflation and the external account. UBL, FFC, PPL, HBL and MARI were identified as the major drags on the benchmark, collectively shaving around 375 points from the KSE-100 Index.
Despite the fall in the headline indices, activity in the ready market increased considerably. Ready-market turnover rose to 568.040 million shares from 421.016 million shares on Monday, an increase of 147.025 million shares, or 34.92 percent. Traded value also increased to Rs.20.813 billion from Rs.17.736 billion, rising by Rs.3.076 billion, or 17.34 percent.
Total market capitalisation fell by Rs.71.499 billion to Rs.18.890 trillion from Rs.18.962 trillion in the preceding session. Market breadth remained heavily negative, with 154 companies advancing, 305 declining and 37 remaining unchanged out of 496 active issues.
Cnergyico PK remained the most actively traded stock in the ready market, with 56.532 million shares changing hands. The stock closed at Rs.13.09 compared to Rs.13.32 previously.
Tasdeeq Information followed with 56.296 million shares. It closed at Rs.5.22 against the previous close of Rs4.95.
K-Electric Ltd. recorded 34.673 million shares. The stock settled at Rs.6.09 against Rs6.06.
In ready-market price movements, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) emerged as the leading gainer, rising Rs.375.00 to close at Rs 15,500.00. Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited followed with a gain of Rs 149.50, settling at Rs 25,335.00.
On the declining side, Sapphire Textile Mills Limited recorded the largest fall, losing Rs.83.41 to close at Rs 1,477.24, while Pakistan Services Limited declined by Rs 26.26 to finish at Rs1,118.78.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index fell 117.22 points, or 0.52 percent, to close at 22,390.22 points, with turnover of 1.313 million shares. The BR Cement Index declined by 52.96 points, or 0.45 percent, to 11,712.59 points on turnover of 19.462 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index shed 222.77 points, or 0.38 percent, to close at 58,528.60 points, with 14.358 million shares changing hands. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index declined by 39.24 points, or 0.15 percent, to 25,641.74 points, while turnover in the sector stood at 71.525 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index fell 112.59 points, or 0.75 percent, to 14,958.89 points on turnover of 24.358 million shares, while the BR Tech. & Comm. Index declined by 28.23 points, or 0.84 percent, to 3,322.05 points, with 61.106 million shares traded.
Analysts attributed the late deterioration in market sentiment primarily to persistent Middle East geopolitical uncertainty and the sharp rise in crude oil prices. They argue that the future outlook of the market heavily depends upon the geopolitical situation of the region, oil prices and outcome of the IMF-government talks.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026