KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed sharply lower on Thursday, as selling pressure and cautious investor sentiment dominated trading. The benchmark KSE-100 index dropped 1,488.48 points, or 0.81%, to settle at 181,561.32 points, following a positive session on Wednesday when it had gained 896.25 points to close at 183,049.80 points.
Read More: PSX stays bullish, gains 896 points to close at 183,049
Market activity remained moderate, with the ready market recording a trading volume of 734.671 million shares valued at Rs35.393 billion, compared with 1,062.309 million shares worth Rs37.883 billion in the previous session. Market capitalization increased slightly to Rs20.710 trillion from Rs20.634 trillion a day earlier.
Out of 477 active companies in the ready market, 208 posted gains, 223 saw declines, while 46 remained unchanged, reflecting a broadly bearish trend. Analysts attributed the decline to profit-taking, cautious investor sentiment, and uncertainty over economic and policy developments.
The market had shown bullish momentum on Wednesday, with investors responding positively to earlier corporate earnings and economic indicators, but the turnaround on Thursday highlighted persistent volatility in Pakistan’s equity market.
Market observers noted that trading volumes and value have been fluctuating in recent sessions, suggesting that investors remain wary amid global market pressures and domestic economic concerns.
Read More: PSX rebounds as KSE-100 gains 1,200 points