PSX Closing Bell: A Little Offbeat

The benchmark KSE-100 closed Thursday at 177,322.77, down 47.93 points or 0.03 per cent, according to Mettis Link News. Trading ranged across 1,453.73 points, with an intraday high of 178,650.01 and a low of 177,196.28. Of the index's 100 companies, 48 finished higher while 52 closed lower, and the All-Share Index ended at 107,545.61, a net loss of 170.58 points or 0.16 per cent.

NBP was the biggest drag, costing the index 239.51 points after a 6.56 per cent fall, while PPL and PSO also weighed heavily. At sector level, Oil & Gas Exploration Companies removed 139.56 points, ahead of Cement at 126.33 points. Mettis Link News tied the broader pressure to oil prices, which kept falling as hopes grew that Iran-related diplomacy could reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

On the upside, AICL rose 6.18 per cent and KTML gained 4.95 per cent, while HUBC, ENGROH and POL were among the top point contributors. Total traded value reached Rs34.55 billion, up Rs3.18 billion, on volume of 614.06 million shares across 408,043 trades.