Bears return to PSX, KSE-100 index sheds over 100 points

By
Business Desk
A representational image of Pakistan Stock Exchange. — AFP/File
A representational image of Pakistan Stock Exchange. — AFP/File

  • KSE-100 index closes at 41,765.62 points after shedding 0.27%.
  • Shares of 331 companies were traded during the session.
  • Overall trading volumes plunged to 257.16 million shares.


KARACHI: The bears staged a comeback at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) as tough economic conditions let the market to trade in range-bound, closing the day with a loss of over 100 points.

Positive news regarding the receipt of the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the seventh and eighth reviews coupled with the recovery of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar failed to entice the market players who opted to remain on the sidelines.

The stock market traded between hope and despair, which eventually let loose the bears who dragged the bourse into the red.

At close, the benchmark KSE-100 index closed at 41,765.62 points after shedding 112.95 points or 0.27%.

Benchmark KSE-100 index intra-day trading curve. — PSX data portal
Benchmark KSE-100 index intra-day trading curve. — PSX data portal

A report from Arif Habib Limited noted that the benchmark KSE-100 index witnessed an under-pressure session today as investors opted for profit-taking. 

"Mainboard activity remained dry whereas hefty volumes were recorded in the third-tier stocks," it noted.

Sectors contributing to the performance included banks (-61.4 points), fertiliser (-48.5 points), technology (-21 points), oil marketing companies (-19.6 points), and chemical (-13.9 points).

Shares of 331 companies were traded during the session. At the close of trading, 123 scrips closed in the green, 192 in the red, and 16 remained unchanged.

Overall trading volumes plunged to 257.16 million shares compared with Monday’s tally of 247.9 million. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs7.7 billion.

K-Electric was the volume leader with 28.04 million shares traded, gaining Rs0.04 to close at Rs3.13. It was followed by Oilboy Energy with 23.89 million shares traded, losing Rs0.55 to close at Rs0.04 and WorldCall Telecom Limited with 17.06 million shares traded, losing Rs0.04 to close at Rs1.39.