KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened Tuesday on a sharply weaker note, with the benchmark KSE‑100 Index plunging 1,170 points, or 0.70 percent, to 168,326.99 as investors grappled with mounting economic and geopolitical pressures.
By 9:50 a.m., the broader All‑Share Index had shed 575 points to 100,763.78, while the KSE‑30 dropped 464 points to 50,944.41. The KMI‑30 fell 1,705 points to 241,519.82, and the Banking Index slipped 501 points, or 1.06 percent, to 47,297.30.
Trading activity reflected caution, with 80.8 million shares changing hands in 44,770 transactions, generating a value of Rs3.77 billion. Out of 564 active symbols, 153 advanced, 209 declined, and 202 remained unchanged, underscoring a market tilted toward weakness.
Market watchers said the downturn mirrors investor anxiety over persistent regional tensions and rising energy costs, which continue to weigh on Pakistan’s fragile economy. Analysts noted that the banking sector’s decline highlights concerns about liquidity and credit stress, while broader indices show little appetite for fresh positions amid uncertainty.
Traders pointed out that the combination of external shocks and domestic inflationary pressures has left equities vulnerable. “The mood is defensive, with participants unwilling to commit until clarity emerges on both the geopolitical front and policy direction,” a brokerage note observed.
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