The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) kicked off the week on a bearish note, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index plunging by 1,991.52 points, or 1.66 per cent, during early trading hours on Monday. The index opened at 118,031.71 and briefly touched an intraday low of 117,987.14, continuing last week’s negative momentum.
The sharp decline came amid escalating geopolitical tensions following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, which intensified fears of a wider Middle East conflict. Investor sentiment was shaken, triggering a wave of risk aversion across the market. In response, Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned the strikes and called for restraint from all sides to avoid a broader regional crisis.
Also Read: Geopolitical Tensions Drag PSX Down Nearly 900 Points
Market activity remained subdued, with trading volumes for the KSE-100 Index recorded at just 4.76 million shares. Heavyweight sectors led the decline, particularly Commercial Banks, Cement, Fertilizer, Oil & Gas Exploration, and Power. Major losers included Engro Corporation, Fauji Fertilizer, Lucky Cement, Meezan Bank, and Mari Petroleum.
Despite the downturn, the insurance sector showed mild resilience with limited positive contributions from EFU General Insurance, Adamjee Insurance, and Nestlé Pakistan. A few companies like IBFL and HGFA posted early gains, while YOUW and PKGP emerged as the worst performers.
The broader All Share Index briefly reflected a contrasting trend by gaining 690.68 points, but overall market activity was muted. Volume and value traded both dropped significantly, indicating investor caution amid regional uncertainty.
