Overview
- The Pakistan Stock Exchange fell for a third session with the KSE-100 down about 698 points at Wednesday’s close and extending losses toward 1,400 points in Thursday trading as selling accelerated.
- Renewed US–Iran attacks on shipping and energy infrastructure pushed Brent crude above $100 per barrel, triggering investor fears of supply disruption and higher domestic fuel costs.
- Selling was concentrated in index-heavy sectors such as commercial banks, cement, fertiliser, oil and gas and oil-marketing companies, with heavyweight names including MCB, Lucky Cement, FFC, Meezan Bank and MARI dragging the benchmark lower.
- Market activity slowed sharply with ready-market volumes near 477.7 million shares and traded value around Rs22.6 billion, while the National Clearing Company showed modest net foreign buying of about Rs84.5 million.
- Analysts say volatility is likely to persist ahead of corporate results and the State Bank of Pakistan’s policy announcement because sustained higher oil prices will widen the import bill, raise inflationary pressure and influence interest-rate expectations.