KARACHI – The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its positive streak on Thursday, the fourth trading day of the week, with the benchmark KSE-100 index closing at 158,173 points after gaining 2,396 points or 1.54% from Wednesday’s close of 155,777 points.
The index fluctuated sharply during the session, dipping to an intra-day low of 156,250 before recovering to a high of 158,173, an uptick reflecting a rebound from extreme volatility tied to the ongoing Iran-US/Israel war, including a record 16,000-point plunge (9.57%) on March 1, 2026, and earlier 1,900-point drops amid escalations—drops that far outpaced typical dips in more resilient Gulf bourses, bolstered by sovereign wealth buffers and diversified revenues.
Pakistan’s heavy reliance on imported petroleum, accounting for over 25% of its import bill, heightens inflation and current account pressures from potential Strait of Hormuz disruptions, unlike net oil-exporting Gulf states.
Market experts believe that today’s surge, apparently, thus signals short-term buying interest rather than underlying stability, as investors navigate geopolitical risks alongside favorable domestic sentiment.
(This is a developing story and will be updated as new reports are received)
