PSX loses early gains as selling pressure drags KSE-100 into red

The KSE-100 was down 935.34 points, or 0.52%, at 178,148.46 by 1:45 pm on Thursday, after reversing a strong morning advance. Figures on the PSX website show the index had climbed almost 1,200 points to 180,310 before sellers took control after noon, sending it as low as 177,317.80. Profit by Pakistan Today attributed the weaker mood to geopolitical strains and worries about possible interruptions to international energy supplies.

Pressure extended across several areas of the market, including vehicle makers, cement, banks, oil and gas firms, and power generation. The move followed Wednesday's 251.44-point, or 0.14%, decline, which left the index at 179,083.80. Overseas markets were also weaker: chip-related selling and losses across Asian benchmarks coincided with Brent crude falling 1.0% to $91.87 as concerns about further Middle East escalation eased.