KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange remained under heavy pressure Tuesday, with the KSE‑100 Index sliding further after Monday’s sharp decline. The market opened weak and by mid‑morning the downturn had intensified, leaving benchmarks deep in negative territory as the benchmark index shed almost 3,600 points, a fall of more than two percent.
Broader gauges including the All‑Share, KSE‑30, KMI‑30, and Banking Index all mirrored the slide, underscoring the breadth of the rout. Market breadth was overwhelmingly negative, with nearly four hundred stocks declining against barely fifty advancing, while trading activity surged past 180 million shares in more than 120,000 transactions.
Analysts said the continued slump reflects a combination of domestic caution and international shocks. Renewed skirmishes in the Gulf and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted global energy flows, amplifying investor anxiety. The external turbulence has compounded local economic concerns, eroding the optimism that briefly returned last week when buying lifted sentiment.
Traders noted that investor mood has shifted decisively toward risk aversion, with fresh positions avoided amid uncertainty over how long the Gulf crisis will persist and whether diplomatic efforts can restore stability. With inflationary pressures at home and geopolitical volatility abroad, the market remains vulnerable to further shocks.
