KSE-100 falls 1,549 points as weekly loss reaches 2.43%

The Pakistan Stock Exchange's benchmark KSE-100 index fell 1,549.44 points, or 0.95%, on Friday, extending its weekly decline to 2.43%. Reports gave slightly different closing levels: one put the index at 162,374.87 and another at 162,374.88.

The index traded between 162,292.44 and 163,966.86 during the session. Selling affected automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, oil marketing companies, power generation and refineries. Meezan Bank, Engro Holdings, Lucky Cement, Hub Power and Pakistan Petroleum together weighed on the index by 637 points.

Trading volume reached 398.94 million shares, compared with 367.09 million in the previous session, while the value of shares traded was Rs18.20 billion. Of 495 companies traded, 311 declined, 136 advanced and 48 were unchanged.

Market accounts cited rising international oil prices, profit-taking and caution ahead of the State Bank of Pakistan's monetary policy decision on Monday. They differed in describing regional tensions, referring to intensifying Saudi-Houthi fighting and escalating US-Iran tensions.