KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed marginally lower on Wednesday as late-session profit-taking pared gains.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index shed 251.44 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 179,083.80 points against 179,335.24 points in the previous session. During the trading, the index touched an intraday high of 180,769.22 points and a low of 178,642.36 points.
Business Recorder’s benchmark indices also closed lower. The BRIndex100 settled at 19,732.45 points, down 37.42 points, or 0.19 percent, from the previous close, with total volume of 835.052 million shares. The BRIndex30 declined by 282.33 points, or 0.40 percent, to close at 69,646.83 points, with turnover of 402.031 million shares.
According to Topline Securities, the market remained range-bound as investors weighed high domestic liquidity against fresh international oil supply concerns and geopolitical developments in the Middle East.
Midday buying was concentrated in oil marketing companies and refineries, while activity was also observed in cement and technology stocks. However, key commercial banking and exploration and production names came under consolidation pressure after Tuesday’s strong rally.
Ready-market activity recorded a sharp increase in share volume, crossing the one-billion-share mark, although traded value declined. Total turnover rose to 1.248 billion shares, compared with 972.433 million shares in the previous session, an increase of 275.775 million shares, or 28.36 percent.
However, total traded value contracted to Rs41.813 billion from Rs50.665 billion, declining by Rs8.852 billion, or 17.47 percent.
Total market capitalisation decreased by Rs20.325 billion to Rs19.377 trillion from Rs19.397 trillion previously. Market breadth remained positive, with 255 companies advancing, 215 declining and 28 remaining unchanged out of 498 active issues.
WorldCall Telecom led ready-market turnover with 231.752 million shares. The stock closed at Rs1.22 against the previous close of Rs1.02.
Tasdeeq Information followed with 219.678 million shares. It settled at Rs6.24 compared with Rs5.24 previously.
Cnergyico PK recorded turnover of 56.728 million shares. The stock closed at Rs11.77 against Rs11.35 in the previous session.
Among ready-market price gainers, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited recorded the largest increase, rising by Rs415.42 to close at Rs26,460.00. PIA Holding Company LimitedB followed, gaining Rs223.98 to settle at Rs14,224.99.
On the losing side, Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited recorded the largest decline, shedding Rs47.59 to finish at Rs8,487.30. Sapphire Fibres Limited followed, falling by Rs45.08 to close at Rs944.91.
Sectoral performance was mixed. The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 22,996.42 points, declining by 12.61 points, or 0.05 percent, with turnover of 2.731 million shares.
The BR Cement Index fell by 159.85 points, or 1.22 percent, to settle at 12,912.77 points, with total turnover of 62.300 million shares. The BR Commercial Banks Index declined by 253.98 points, or 0.40 percent, to close at 62,909.05 points, with turnover of 58.683 million shares.
The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index shed 149.15 points, or 0.55 percent, to finish at 27,167.31 points, with total turnover of 33.409 million shares.
In contrast, the BR Oil and Gas Index gained 65.04 points, or 0.42 percent, to close at 15,482.88 points, with turnover of 64.658 million shares. The BR Technology and Communication Index advanced by 34.16 points, or 1.08 percent, to settle at 3,205.01 points, recording the highest turnover among the reported sectoral indices at 292.076 million shares.
Market participants expect the PSX to remain in a consolidation phase near historic levels, with direction likely to be influenced by international energy-market dynamics, geopolitical developments in the Middle East and upcoming global macroeconomic indicators. They expect these factors to shape investor sentiment and determine the market’s near-term momentum.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026