KARACHI: Heightened regional and domestic political uncertainty, coupled with elevated international crude oil prices, triggered broad-based risk aversion at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday, sending the market into a nosedive as selling pressure intensified across major sectors.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index plunged 2,288.17 points, or 1.36 percent, to settle at 165,867.32 points compared to 168,155.49 points in the previous session. The index remained under pressure after touching an intraday high of 167,918.37 points and subsequently fell to a low of 165,764.21 points.
Business Recorder sectoral indices recorded widespread losses. The BRIndex100 closed at 18,179.78 points, down 317.32 points or 1.72 percent from the previous close of 18,497.10 points, with a total volume of 369.533 million shares. The BRIndex30 closed at 64,521.44 points, declining by 1,780.12 points or 2.68 percent from 66,301.56 points previously, with a total volume of 223.797 million shares.
Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, said the market started on a negative note amid regional and domestic political developments and remained under pressure throughout the session. He noted that the KSE-100 Index extended the previous week’s decline and breached the 166,000-point support level as uncertainty and elevated oil prices encouraged investors to reduce exposure. According to Najib, UBL, ENGROH, HBL, HUBC, PPL, OGDC, FFC, NBP, PSX and BAHL collectively dragged the benchmark down by 1,114 points.
Trading activity in the ready market also contracted. Total volume declined to 441.898 million shares from 493.957 million shares on Friday, representing a decrease of 52.059 million shares or 10.54 percent. Traded value fell to Rs.15.710 billion from Rs.17.491 billion, down Rs.1.781 billion or 10.18 percent.
Total market capitalization contracted by Rs.261.073 billion to Rs.18.464 trillion compared to Rs.18.726 trillion in the previous session, reflecting the broad-based decline in equity valuations. Market breadth was overwhelmingly negative, with 409 issues closing lower, 55 advancing and 35 remaining unchanged out of 499 active companies.
First National Equities topped the ready-market turnover list with 50.252 million shares. The stock closed the day at Rs.1.17 against Rs.1.22. Pakistan International Bulk Terminal followed with 30.667 million shares. It closed the session at Rs.13.19 compared to Rs.14.20. Cnergyico PK recorded 30.042 million shares, closed at Rs.12.21 against Rs.12.72.
Among the major gainers, Dadex Eternit Limited advanced by Rs.13.14 to close at Rs.144.55, while Pakistan Synthetics Limited gained Rs.11.61 to settle at Rs.183.95. On the declining side, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited recorded the largest loss, falling by Rs.472.40 to close at Rs.25,016.00. PIA Holding Company LimitedB declined by Rs.150.50 to finish at Rs.15,000.00.
The BR Cement Index fell by 170.70 points or 1.48 percent to 11,385.93 points, with turnover of 23.566 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index declined by 717.89 points or 1.23 percent to 57,621.39 points, with total turnover of 17.133 million shares.
The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index dropped by 534.74 points or 2.13 percent to close at 24,577.17 points, with turnover of 38.499 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index declined by 151.79 points or 1.02 percent to 14,662.43 points, with turnover of 23.463 million shares.
The BR Tech. & Comm. Index fell by 82.19 points or 2.55 percent to close at 3,144.88 points, with total turnover of 52.311 million shares.
Ali Najib said the market outlook was likely to remain volatile and range-bound amid elevated geopolitical and domestic political uncertainty. He noted that high oil prices continued to pose risks to external balances, inflation and corporate margins, while positive developments on local and regional political fronts could provide support to market momentum in the near term.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026