Overview
- The benchmark KSE-100 closed at 163,924.32 after losing 2,006.67 points, a drop recorded on Thursday that pushed the index below the 164,000 level.
- A small group of large-cap stocks — Engro Holdings, UBL, Hub Power, HBL and PTC — together removed roughly 752 points from the index and amplified the market’s decline.
- Trading activity contracted with regular-market turnover near 367 million shares valued at about Rs18 billion and total market capitalisation around Rs18.17 trillion.
- Foreign investors were net sellers of about Rs376.5 million while nine-month bank results came broadly in line with expectations but failed to provide a market support.
- Analysts warn that higher oil prices will raise Pakistan’s import bill and squeeze energy-linked corporate margins, so continued geopolitical risk and oil moves will be key to whether the downtrend eases or deepens.