KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended Thursday’s trading session on a weaker note as profit-taking across key sectors pushed the benchmark KSE-100 Index into negative territory.
According to market data, the KSE-100 Index closed at 185,543.01 points, shedding 975.70 points, or 0.52 per cent, compared to the previous session. The index had opened at 186,998.48 points and touched an intraday high of 187,905.17 points before heavy selling pressure dragged it down to a low of 185,199.37 points.
Market participants said the decline reflected cautious investor sentiment amid uncertainty over upcoming economic indicators and corporate earnings expectations.
Trading activity remained healthy, with total index constituent volume recorded at 576.35 million shares, indicating continued interest despite the downward move.
On a year-to-date basis, the market still shows strong performance, with FYTD returns at 47.69 per cent and CYTD gains at 6.60 per cent, highlighting the broader bullish trend despite short-term corrections.
Pullers and Draggers
Among the stocks supporting the index, AICL led the gainers with a contribution of 92.80 points, followed by NBP (89.94 points), PAEL (68.52 points), FFC (68.06 points) and MARI (64.70 points).
However, heavy losses in major stocks outweighed the gains. ENGROH emerged as the biggest drag on the index, pulling it down by 315.02 points, followed by UBL (-246.90), MEBL (-204.69), SYS (-117.12) and PPL (-102.13).
Analysts believe the correction is a natural part of the market cycle after recent highs, adding that long-term investors remain confident in Pakistan’s equity market outlook.
Outlook
Experts advise investors to remain selective, focusing on fundamentally strong stocks while keeping an eye on macroeconomic developments, interest rate expectations, and corporate results.
Despite Thursday’s decline, the PSX continues to reflect resilience, supported by strong participation and improving confidence in the country’s economic recovery path.
