PSX sheds over 1,300 points as selling pressure persists

According to The Express Tribune, the KSE-100 index at the Pakistan Stock Exchange fell 1,370.52 points, or 0.81%, to close at 168,021.80 on Wednesday. Trading opened in negative territory and stayed in the red, with declines spreading across major sectors. Lower crude prices and continuing Middle East supply problems also weighed on sentiment.

Car assemblers, cement makers, lenders, upstream oil and gas firms and fuel marketers all came under pressure. Ahmed Sheraz of KTrade Securities said the fall was widespread, with banks, fertiliser makers and cement shares leading, and Habib Bank, Lucky Cement and Bank Al Falah among the biggest drags. The session range ran from a high of 169,382.01 to a low of 167,849.70.

The State Bank of Pakistan kept its policy rate at 11.50%, though outside and inflation-related strains still weighed on investor mood. Brent crude traded near $108 per barrel and at times above $109, while uncertainty over Hormuz and Red Sea shipping lanes persisted. Trading volume eased to 356.1 million shares from 372 million, with WorldCall Telecom leading volume at 40 million shares and closing at Rs1.02 after losing Rs0.04.