KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a volatile session on Thursday as the market reversed its early gains and closed sharply lower. Renewed selling pressure after midday wiped out the gains, amid investor caution over domestic political uncertainty.
The KSE-100 Index declined by 1,710.04 points, or 0.95 percent, to close at 177,373.76 points against the previous session’s 179,083.80 points. During the session, the benchmark touched an intraday high of 180,310.45 points and a low of 177,271.61 points, moving within a range of 3,038.84 points.
Business Recorder’s benchmark indices also recorded losses. The BRIndex100 closed at 19,495.75 points, shedding 236.70 points, or 1.20 percent, on a total turnover of 678.542 million shares. The BRIndex30 declined by 913.38 points, or 1.31 percent, to close at 68,733.45 points, with total volume standing at 312.409 million shares.
According to Ali Najib, Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, the benchmark remained volatile around the 180,000 level before reversing its early gains. From the index contribution perspective, UBL, LUCK, HUBC, SYS, FFC, NBP, MEBL, PPL, AKBL and BAHL were the major laggards, collectively eroding approximately 1,047 points from the KSE-100 Index, reflecting broad-based profit-taking in key heavyweight stocks.
Ready-market activity contracted in both share volume and traded value. Total turnover stood at 1.07 billion shares, compared with 1.248 billion shares, in the previous session. This represented a decrease of 177.728 million shares, or 14.24 percent.
The total traded value declined by Rs10.176 billion, or 24.34 percent, to Rs31.636 billion from Rs41.813 billion in the preceding session. Market capitalisation also contracted by Rs152.982 billion to Rs19.224 trillion from Rs19.377 trillion previously.
Market breadth remained negative, with 316 companies closing lower, 155 advancing and 29 remaining unchanged out of 500 active issues.
WorldCall Telecom led ready-market turnover with 190.623 million shares. The stock closed at Rs1.25 against the previous close of Rs1.22. Tasdeeq Information followed with 147.356 million shares. It settled at Rs5.93 compared with Rs6.24 previously. F. Nat.Equities recorded turnover of 55.342 million shares, closed at Rs1.23 against Rs1.20.
Among ready-market price gainers, Bhanero Textile Mills Limited recorded the largest increase, rising by Rs116.71 to close at Rs1,283.83. Pakistan Engineering Company Limited followed, gaining Rs60.08 to settle at Rs1,115.10.
On the losing side, PIA Holding Company LimitedB recorded the largest decline, shedding Rs180.99 to finish at Rs14,044.00. Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited followed, falling by Rs160.02 to close at Rs26,299.98.
Sectoral performance was mixed, although most major sectors ended in negative territory. The BR Automobile Assembler Index was among the exceptions, gaining 120.96 points, or 0.53 percent, to close at 23,117.38 points on a turnover of 2.836 million shares.
The BR Cement Index declined by 213.81 points, or 1.66 percent, to settle at 12,698.96 points, with turnover of 45.026 million shares. The BR Commercial Banks Index shed 767.35 points, or 1.22 percent, to close at 62,141.70 points on a volume of 37.893 million shares.
The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index fell by 381.80 points, or 1.41 percent, to finish at 26,785.51 points, with turnover of 51.455 million shares. The BR Oil and Gas Index lost 46.46 points, or 0.30 percent, to close at 15,436.42 points on a volume of 51.519 million shares. The BR Technology and Communication Index recorded the steepest decline among the listed sectoral indices, shedding 64.66 points, or 2.02 percent, to settle at 3,140.35 points, with turnover of 236.873 million shares.
Going forward, analysts say the market is likely to remain volatile amid domestic political uncertainty and profit-taking near the 180,000 resistance level. Selective buying may emerge at lower levels, while investors are expected to keep a close watch on political developments.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026