The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed its fourth consecutive negative trading session, deepening investor concerns over market volatility and economic uncertainty. Over the past four sessions, the benchmark KSE-100 Index has shed 4,500 points, wiping out nearly Rs600 billion from the market’s total capitalization.
At the close of trading on Thursday, the KSE-100 Index plunged by 735 points, settling at 164,530 points. This marks a significant fall from its recent peak of 169,988 points recorded on October 3, representing a cumulative decline of over 5,400 points in just one week.
During the session, 1.57 billion shares changed hands, with a total trading value of approximately Rs50.5 billion. Despite strong volumes, persistent selling pressure across key sectors — including banking, cement, energy, and technology — continued to drag the market lower.
The market capitalization also saw a further drop of Rs84 billion, closing at Rs19.064 trillion, reflecting sustained investor caution amid weakening sentiment.
Analysts attribute the ongoing decline to a mix of macroeconomic concerns, including uncertainty surrounding fiscal policy, rising inflation, rupee volatility, and fears of slower corporate earnings in the upcoming quarter. Additionally, profit-taking by institutional investors after last month’s rally has accelerated the downward trend.
Market experts note that investors are now awaiting clarity on IMF-related policy measures and budgetary reforms, which could determine the next direction for equities. Until then, they expect trading to remain choppy and sentiment-driven, with short-term support levels being closely tested.
