PSX extends losses as KSE-100 drops nearly 1,500 points 

Selling pressure continued to impact the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index plunging more than 1,400 points at the close as investors adopted a cautious stance.

Market analysts said investor sentiment remained cautious despite some easing in geopolitical tensions. They noted that uncertainty surrounding global developments and domestic economic factors continued to weigh on risk appetite.

According to the PSX website, the market opened on a positive note, with the benchmark index gaining more than 1,500 points in the early minutes of trading. However, the momentum quickly reversed as heavy selling pressure set in, dragging the index sharply lower. The index fell to the lowest level of 163,907.59. 

Losses were recorded across major sectors, including oil and gas exploration, oil marketing companies and power generation, cement, chemicals, commercial banks, fertilisers. Heavyweight stocks such as HUBCO, MARI, PPL, SSGC, SNGPL, MEBL, UBL and NBP traded in negative territory.

At the end of the session, the benchmark index settled at 166,258.54, down by 1432.54 points or 0.85% from the previous close. 

On Monday, the market had closed sharply lower, with the KSE-100 Index settling at 167,691.08 after losing 5,478.63 points or 3.16%, amid concerns over geopolitical developments, the upcoming IMF review and the corporate earnings season.

In international markets, Asian equities were mixed on Tuesday following overnight losses on Wall Street. MSCI’s broad index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.2%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.7% as trading resumed after a holiday. S&P 500 e-mini futures were marginally higher.

Global sentiment remained influenced by uncertainty over US trade policy after President Donald Trump indicated that higher duties could be imposed under alternative trade laws following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down certain tariffs.