PSX drops over 700 points in early trade despite positive start

Pakistan Stock Exchange opened on a cautious but positive note on Monday as investors entered the first trading day of the week with optimism.

The benchmark KSE-100 index initially rose, gaining 274.43 points to reach 162,377.35 around 9:41 AM, with trading volume recorded at 11,064,476 shares. This early upward momentum reflected a tentative investor confidence carried over from last week’s market activity.

However, the positive sentiment proved short-lived as the market quickly reversed course after 9:48 AM. By 9:57 AM, the index had slipped 662.17 points, touching 161,440, while volume surged to 22,280,557 shares, suggesting increased selling pressure.

As of 10:24 AM, the KSE-100 was trading at 161,366.06, down 736.86 points or 0.45 percent from the previous close, with total traded volume reaching 39,742,365 shares.

Despite the intraday volatility, the market continues to reflect strong gains over the longer term. The KSE-100 index has risen 65 percent over the past year and shows a year-to-date increase of 40.16 percent. The day’s trading range so far has been between 161,290.96 and 162,377.35, while the 52-week range for the index remains between 94,180.60 and 169,988.62, highlighting the market’s broader upward trajectory amid intermittent fluctuations.

Market performers

Early trading saw active participation in a range of companies. PIAHCLA led the volume charts, climbing 1.76 points to 35.20, a 5.26 percent gain. KOSM and PASL also showed notable increases, while some other actively traded stocks such as BECO, BML, and FNEL registered declines.

Among the top gainers, BELA, DNCC, DSIL, KSTM, SCL, SPL, PAKL, and SAIF recorded significant double-digit percentage gains, highlighting pockets of strong investor interest. On the other hand, top decliners included BFMOD, GUSM, JATM, FIMM, AMBL, OLPL, and SANSM, each posting sharp losses, reflecting profit-taking or sector-specific pressures.

Previous close

The previous week closed with the KSE-100 index at 162,102.92, down 834.01 points or 0.51 percent. Friday’s session saw the index swing within a range of 1,503.93 points, touching an intraday high of 163,357.51 and a low of 161,853.58, signalling continued market uncertainty.

Out of 100 index companies, 25 finished the day in positive territory, 71 declined, and four remained unchanged. Among the top performers, FATIMA, BOP, TGL, TRG, and ISL posted modest gains, while GHGL, KTML, MLCF, PSEL, and SRVI led the losses.