KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed the week on a negative trajectory, with the benchmark KSE‑100 Index shedding 2,938 points to settle at 177,166.
The downturn reflected persistent selling pressure and cautious investor sentiment, despite a brief rebound in Thursday’s session when the index gained nearly 600 points.
Weekly Performance
During the week, the KSE‑100 moved within a band of 5,048 points, touching a high of 181,158 and a low of 176,110. Trading activity remained robust, with 4.22 billion shares changing hands for Rs205 billion. However, market capitalization fell by Rs247 billion, closing at Rs19,882 billion.
Analysts noted that the week’s losses were driven by concerns over inflationary trends, rising petroleum prices, and external economic pressures. While selective buying was seen in mid‑tier counters, heavyweight sectors such as banking and energy faced sustained profit‑taking.
Sentiment and Outlook
Market watchers observed that the rebound in Thursday’s session was short‑lived, as broader sentiment remained cautious. The decline in capitalization underscores the fragility of investor confidence, with traders awaiting clarity on fiscal measures and external financing flows.
Market analysts opined the week’s close highlights the tug‑of‑war between bargain hunters and defensive sellers, suggesting volatility will continue to dominate the PSX in the sessions ahead.
