Overview
- The Pakistan Stock Exchange fell sharply on Friday as the KSE-100 lost about 1,549 points to close near 162,375, extending the weekly decline and marking the fifth consecutive week of weakness.
- Brokers and market reviews linked the sell-off to escalating US–Iran tensions, higher international oil prices, profit-taking and traders reducing exposure ahead of the State Bank of Pakistan Monetary Policy Committee meeting.
- Trading activity rose while market internals showed stress: roughly 398–399 million shares changed hands with Rs18.2 billion turnover, 311 of 495 stocks fell, total market capitalisation dropped by about Rs159 billion to Rs18.014 trillion, and foreign investors were net sellers of about Rs416.6 million.
- Weakness was broad-based with heavy-weight losses in banks, cement, power and oil & gas that together erased large chunks of the index and pushed volume leaders to smaller, high-turnover names.
- The market is likely to stay volatile into the SBP decision expected next week, with analysts forecasting a 50‑basis‑point rate rise that would raise borrowing costs and could pressure equities further while affecting financing costs for businesses and consumers.