Overview
- The benchmark KSE-100 dropped 825.22 points to close at 169,600.41 following a late-session reversal that erased earlier gains and pushed the index under the 170,000 psychological level.
- Trading activity rose sharply with ready-market turnover near 568 million shares and traded value around Rs20.8 billion, signaling active repositioning by investors.
- Large-cap banks, oil and gas, fertiliser and cement stocks — including UBL, Fauji Fertiliser, Pakistan Petroleum and HBL — were major drags that together removed hundreds of points from the index.
- Foreign investors were net sellers of about Rs132.8 million and market breadth was weak with 305 declining issues versus 154 advancers, reflecting broad-based risk aversion.
- The sell-off was attributed to renewed Middle East tensions and higher Brent crude, which raise Pakistan's import and inflation pressures while formal IMF reviews of the EFF and RSF begin and could affect future disbursements and market confidence.