PSX: Selling at bourse, KSE-100 down 300 points

According to Business Recorder, the benchmark KSE-100 index slipped more than 300 points in the opening minutes of Friday's session at the Pakistan Stock Exchange. At 10:30am it stood at 174,627.46, a fall of 302.22 points or 0.17 per cent. The index had added 153.09 points on Thursday to close at 174,929.69.

Declines were visible across banking, exploration, fuel marketing, power and refining shares. The heavyweight names HUBCO, POL, PPL, NBP and UBL were also trading lower at that point.

Overseas markets were firmer, with Asian shares rising ahead of key US jobs figures. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said recent figures hinted at easing inflation, and futures cut the odds of a rate hike this month to 50 per cent from about 63 per cent a day earlier. Local investors had already been cautious on Thursday, when higher international oil prices and geopolitical conflicts weighed on sentiment.