KARACHI — On Wednesday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its downward trend, as cautious investors persisted in selling amid escalating geopolitical worries.
Topline Securities Ltd reported that the PSX experienced another volatile session, with the KSE‑100 index slipping further as investor sentiment stayed subdued, driven by rising Middle East geopolitical tensions and a notable increase in global crude oil prices.
Intensified risk aversion prompted widespread selling across major sectors, dwarfing any selective buying interest.
The benchmark index closed at 176,042.98, down 1,580.90 points, or 0.89%, after trading in a volatile range that reached an intraday high of 176,935.03 and a low of 175,631.74.
Geopolitical tensions, oil spike trigger selling
On the downside, United Bank Ltd, Lucky Cement, Engro Holdings, Hub Power, and Pakistan Petroleum were the biggest drags on the benchmark, together wiping out roughly 669 points.
Investor participation weakened sharply, with total trading volume falling 40.07% to 574 million shares and turnover declining 38.96% to Rs25.36 billion.
Arif Habib Ltd (AHL) noted that the PSX remained in a consolidation phase, with the index eroding further gains from Monday’s 7,241‑point rebound rally.
Investor sentiment soured after the United States reported that its forces were targeted by Iran overnight, and after Washington and Saudi Arabia struck Tehran‑backed militias in Iraq, ending a brief lull in hostilities.
On the corporate side, Fauji Fertiliser reported a net profit of Rs24.4 billion, with earnings per share of Rs16.93 in the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 — a 39% rise versus the previous quarter. The firm also announced a dividend of Rs14.50 per share for 2QCY26, raising the payout ratio to 86%, up from Rs8.5 per share in the prior quarter.
Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Ltd released its first‑quarter results for fiscal year 2027, reporting a profit after tax of Rs2.486 billion (EPS Rs17.41), representing a three‑fold increase year‑on‑year from Rs828 million (EPS Rs5.80) in Q1 FY2026 and a 2.5‑fold rise quarter‑on‑quarter from Rs1.008 billion (EPS Rs7.06) in Q4 FY2026.