KSE-100 sheds 1,356 points amid profit-taking pressure
Index closes at 149,235 after volatile session; volumes top 1bn shares
Karachi — The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a turbulent trading day on Thursday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index slipping 1,356 points, or 0.9%, to close at 149,235. The session was marked by sharp intraday swings as the index surged to an early high of 151,250 before sliding to an intraday low of 148,273, reflecting aggressive profit-taking by investors after recent gains.
Despite some upward momentum from select stocks, selling pressure in heavyweight sectors dominated the day. Searle (SEARL), Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDC), and Systems Limited (SYS) collectively contributed 210 points to the index. However, this was more than offset by declines in Meezan Bank (MEBL), Habib Bank Limited (HBL), Engro Corporation (ENGRO), Bank AL Habib (BAHL), and MCB Bank, which together wiped out 636 points.
Market activity remained robust, with total traded volume crossing 1.061 billion shares, while turnover stood at Rs55.8 billion. Analysts attributed the volatility to investors booking profits at higher levels following the index’s recent rally past the 150,000 mark.KSE-100 Falls 283 Points Amid Volatility
Traders said that while overall sentiment remains optimistic amid improving macroeconomic indicators and corporate earnings announcements, periodic bouts of profit-taking are expected as investors rebalance portfolios. The banking and energy sectors, which carry significant weight in the benchmark index, were at the center of Thursday’s pullback.
Market observers added that sustained investor participation—evidenced by the high trading volume—underscored continued liquidity in the market. However, they cautioned that the index may continue to see choppy sessions in the near term as participants track global commodity prices, foreign inflows, and policy signals from the government and central bank.
