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KABUL – Pakistan’s stock market took a sharp hit on Wednesday as investor sentiment soured following the collapse of peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan, triggering heavy sell-offs across key sectors.
The benchmark KSE-100 index dropped 1,635.97 points, or 1.02%, closing at 158,465.06, as traders reacted to political uncertainty and mixed quarterly earnings. The index moved between an intraday high of 160,690.12 and a low of 158,306.84 before closing deep in the red.
Analysts attributed the decline to heightened regional tensions, margin calls, and institutional profit-taking, warning that the correction could continue amid weak economic signals. “The absence of positive triggers has kept investors cautious,” said KTrade Securities, noting that market pressure intensified after the breakdown of Islamabad-Kabul negotiations.
Heavy selling hit blue-chip stocks including Lucky Cement, United Bank, Mari Energies, MCB Bank, Engro Fertiliser, and Bank Al Habib. However, National Bank shares rose after strong quarterly results, offering slight resistance to the market slide.
Trading volume fell to 951.8 million shares, down from 1 billion on Tuesday, with a total value of Rs41.3 billion. Out of 478 active scrips, 123 advanced, 314 declined, and 41 remained unchanged. K-Electric led the volumes, trading 93 million shares, up Rs0.17 to close at Rs5.44.
Market watchers expect cautious trading to persist through rollover week, with focus now shifting to the ongoing corporate earnings season for direction.
