Middle East tensions dent investor confidence

Dawn reported that the KSE-100 lost 2,006.67 points, or 1.21 per cent, on Thursday, closing at 163,924.32 as Middle East tensions and higher international oil prices weighed on sentiment. The index had risen to 166,180.32 earlier in the session before falling to 163,782.42, reflecting heavy selling and volatility.

Topline Securities cited geopolitical uncertainty and oil-price concerns, including risks to Pakistan’s import bill and external account, among the factors keeping investors cautious. Engro Holdings, United Bank, Hub Power, Habib Bank, Lucky Cement and Attock Refinery were among the major drags, while Habib Bank, Meezan Bank and MCB Bank reported 9MCY26 earnings per share of Rs36.84, Rs41.02 and Rs37.26, respectively. Trading volume fell 3.37 per cent to 367 million shares and turnover declined 15.42 per cent to Rs17.9bn.