KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed sharp swings in Thursday’s opening session, with the benchmark KSE‑100 Index oscillating between gains and losses within minutes of trade.
At 9:35am, the index opened higher, adding 603 points (0.35pc) to reach 172,307.46, extending momentum from Wednesday’s historic 4.2pc surge. Just five minutes later, however, profit‑taking pulled the market down, with the KSE‑100 slipping 145 points (-0.08pc) to 171,559.56.
By 9:41am, the index had rebounded again, climbing 712 points (0.41pc) to 172,417.43, underscoring the volatility gripping investors. Trading activity remained intense, with 95.7 million shares worth Rs5.44 billion changing hands across 44,884 transactions.
Market breadth mirrored the swings: advances narrowed during the dip but recovered quickly, with 257 scrips advancing, 108 declining, and 195 unchanged by 9:41am. Other indices also fluctuated, with the KSE‑30, KMI‑30, and Banking Index dipping briefly before regaining ground.
Analysts said the roller‑coaster start reflected a mix of profit‑taking after Wednesday’s buying spree and renewed optimism from easing oil prices and calmer Gulf geopolitics. “The market is highly sensitive today — traders are locking in gains quickly, but the underlying sentiment remains positive,” a brokerage note observed.
Market watchers cautioned that while volatility is natural after a historic surge, sustainability will depend on external financing clarity and signals from the IMF’s upcoming review. For now, the PSX’s early swings highlight both investor caution and resilience in a fast‑moving environment.
