Index tumbles below 170,000 on uncertainty

Dawn reported that the Pakistan Stock Exchange kept sliding as the KSE-100 fell under 170,000 points, with jittery investors unloading stock amid rising economic worries. Topline Securities put the closing level at 169,600.41, marking a decline of 825.22 points, or 0.48 per cent, with intraday trade spanning 170,944.35 down to 169,538.23. Early trade had held near 170,400 to 170,600, but heavier selling after 2:00pm pulled it below 170,000.

Investor mood stayed guarded, with Middle East tensions still weighing on sentiment. Brent crude near $107 a barrel fed concerns over Pakistan's import bill, inflation and external position amid US-Iran friction and Strait of Hormuz supply risks. A group of stocks including United Bank, Habib Bank, Bank Alfalah, Mari Energies, Pakistan State Oil and Systems Ltd together shaved 556 points off the index. Analysts see energy prices, external risks and the ongoing IMF review as the main forces shaping market direction.

Air Link Communication posted a full-year FY26 profit of Rs6,226 million, up 31pc, supported by stronger gross margins and tax reversals. Its 4QFY26 profit climbed 36pc to Rs2,579m, with earnings of Rs6.53 per share, although no quarterly payout was declared while total FY26 dividends reached Rs2 per share. Trading activity also rose, with 568 million shares changing hands, a 34.92pc gain, while turnover climbed 19.34pc, reaching Rs20.7 billion. Cnergyico PK topped the volume table with 56.5m shares.