PSX ends with mild losses, lacks triggers

The benchmark KSE-100 slipped 206.60 points, or 0.11%, to finish Thursday at 180,104.61 on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Express Tribune reported. The index lost 0.73% over the week, and Arif Habib counted just 38 advancing shares against 61 decliners. Turnover was heavy, with 891.33 million shares changing hands compared with 744.24 million in the previous session.

Market commentary pointed to a shortage of new catalysts, with Ahmed Sheraz of KASB KTrade noting oil prices hovering around $87-90 per barrel. Arif Habib also flagged Iran's reorganised military posture and stalled talks with the United States, while progress on the Strait of Hormuz remained uncertain. Mediation by Pakistan and Qatar has not yet produced a durable breakthrough, the report added.

The FY26 budget deficit stood at Rs3,313 billion, or 2.6% of GDP, a record low relative to output. Foreign investors offloaded shares worth Rs802 million, the National Clearing Company reported. With Friday a public holiday for Independence Day, trading will resume only after a long weekend.