KARACHI: Persistent geopolitical uncertainty and fragile market momentum continued to weigh on investor sentiment at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday, despite a late decline in international oil prices.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index declined by 481.36 points, or 0.29 percent, to settle at 168,155.49 points against 168,636.85 points in the previous session. The index moved between an intraday high of 168,854.47 points and a low of 167,685.43 points, reflecting continued volatility and weak investor conviction.
The BRIndex100 closed at 18,497.10, down 73.42 points or 0.40 percent, with total volume of 387.693 million shares. BRIndex30 closed at 66,301.56, down 436.76 points or 0.65 percent, with total volume of 211.761 million shares.
Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, said in his market review that lackluster momentum persisted as the PSX witnessed another negative session, with investors remaining on the sidelines amid uncertainty on the geopolitical front.
He noted that reports of France proposing plans to release 50 million barrels of diesel from Europe and another 50 million barrels of crude oil across International Energy Agency (IEA) members pushed international oil prices down by more than 2 percent during the afternoon session. However, the decline in global oil prices failed to revive buying interest in the local market.
Najib said the selling pressure remained broad-based, with SYS, MEBL, LUCK, NBP, HBL, BAHL, TPLRF1, ENGROH, MLCF and FATIMA collectively dragging the benchmark index down by around 374 points.
Trading activity in the ready market remained subdued, with total volume falling to 493.957 million shares from 548.381 million shares a session earlier, representing a decline of 54.423 million shares or 9.92 percent. However, traded value increased to Rs.17.491 billion from Rs.17.054 billion, rising by Rs.0.438 billion or 2.57 percent.
Total market capitalisation declined by Rs.50.847 billion to Rs.18.726 trillion from Rs.18.776 trillion in the previous session. Market breadth remained negative, with 321 companies closing lower, 128 advancing and 45 remaining unchanged out of 494 active issues.
First National Equities topped the ready-market turnover chart with 42.509 million shares. The stock closed at Rs.1.22 against Rs.1.21.
WorldCall Telecom followed with 40.081 million shares. It closed unchanged at Rs.1.00.
D.S. Ind. Ltd. recorded 29.510 million shares, closed at Rs.17.25 against Rs.15.68.
Among prominent gainers, First Imrooz Modaraba recorded the largest price increase, gaining Rs.28.69 to close at Rs.315.63, followed by Ellcot Spinning Mills Limited, which advanced Rs.14.20 to settle at Rs.210.48.
On the declining side, Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited recorded the largest fall, declining Rs.118.11 to close at Rs.8,722.89, while Nestle Pakistan Limited shed Rs.93.53 to end at Rs.7,014.86.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index declined by 65.37 points or 0.29 percent to 22,234.86, with turnover of 12.253 million shares. The BR Cement Index fell 76.58 points or 0.66 percent to 11,556.63, with turnover of 23.098 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index decreased by 135.10 points or 0.23 percent to 58,339.28, with turnover of 18.542 million shares. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index declined 73.10 points or 0.29 percent to 25,111.91, with turnover of 37.298 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index bucked the broader trend, gaining 25.45 points or 0.17 percent to close at 14,814.22, with turnover of 26.041 million shares. The BR Tech & Communication Index suffered the sharpest decline among the listed BR sector indices, falling 56.07 points or 1.71 percent to 3,227.07, with turnover of 64.528 million shares.
Najib said the market outlook would remain volatile, with select buying possible if geopolitical tensions continued to ease and international oil prices remained on a declining trajectory. He added that elevated energy prices, external-sector risks and the ongoing IMF review would remain important factors influencing market direction.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026