KSE-100 Ends Slightly Lower Amid Lackluster Trading; Index Drops 38 Points

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a mixed trading session on Thursday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index ending marginally lower, reflecting investor caution and selective activity.

Opening on a firm note, the market briefly built on early gains, touching an intraday high of 147,534 points. However, the momentum faded as the session progressed, with selling pressure emerging in key heavyweights. The index slipped to an intraday low of 146,270 points before closing at 146,492, marking a modest decline of 38 points.

Market Statistics

• Total Volume: 186 million shares
• Total Traded Value: PKR 22 billion
• Market Sentiment: Mixed, with focus on second-tier stocks

Major Negative Contributors

The decline was largely driven by notable losses in the following stocks:

• OGDC (-2.6%, -150 points)
• UBL (-1.3%, -150 points)
• PPL (-2.1%, -88 points)
• HUBC (-1.3%, -65 points)
• MARI (-0.9%, -46 points)

Volume Leaders

• AIRLINK: 19.8 million shares
• BOP: 13.5 million shares

Sector-Wise Performance

• E&Ps, OMCs, and Cement sectors faced persistent selling pressure.
• Banks and Fertilizers displayed mixed sentiment, with selective buying in fundamentally strong counters.

Market Outlook

The KSE-100 remains in a consolidation phase, with overall activity subdued and investor participation concentrated in mid- and small-cap stocks. In the near term, volatility is expected to persist, driven by both domestic and global economic cues.

Market experts suggest that investors maintain a long-term perspective, focusing on fundamentally robust sectors such as E&Ps, OMCs, Fertilizers, and Banking, which continue to offer attractive dividend yields and promising growth potential.