KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened Thursday on a weaker note, with the benchmark KSE‑100 Index slipping 942 points, or 0.55 percent, to 17,036.86 as investors grappled with persistent geopolitical uncertainty and fading hopes of U.S.–Iran talks in Islamabad.
By 10:15 a.m., the broader All‑Share Index had declined 365 points to 102,012.63, while the KSE‑30 fell 409 points to 51,695.28. The KMI‑30 dropped 1,358 points to 244,745.13, and the Banking Index shed 515 points, or 1.07 percent, to 48,147.11.
Trading activity remained active, with over 212 million shares changing hands in 85,111 transactions, generating a value of Rs5.44 billion. Out of 564 active symbols, 192 advanced, 227 declined, and 145 remained unchanged, reflecting a market tilted toward caution.
Market watchers said the downturn reflects disappointment after earlier optimism that Islamabad could host a second round of peace talks between Washington and Tehran. With no delegations arriving and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz under a U.S. blockade disrupting global energy flows, sentiment has turned fragile.
Analysts noted that Pakistan’s economy remains highly sensitive to oil price volatility, and the blockade has compounded investor concerns. “The lack of progress on talks and the ongoing Gulf tensions are weighing heavily on equities,” a brokerage note observed.
At the floor, traders pointed out that while recent inflows from Saudi Arabia have bolstered reserves, the immediate mood on the trading floor is one of caution, with investors reluctant to take fresh positions until clarity emerges on both diplomacy and regional energy stability.
