The benchmark KSE-100 index at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened on a negative note on Friday, as escalating tensions in the Middle East continued to drive selling pressure.
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By 9:45am, the index had fallen 660.98 points, or 0.43 per cent, to 152,246.98, compared to the previous close of 152,907.96, reflecting cautious investor sentiment.
The downturn follows a sharp decline in the previous session, when the KSE-100 plunged more than 5,400 points, marking a 3.41 per cent drop amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
Meanwhile, global oil prices also declined, with Brent crude falling 0.8 per cent to $107.17 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate slipping 1.1 per cent to $93.46. The drop comes after US President Donald Trump signaled progress in talks aimed at ending the conflict with Iran and announced a temporary pause on attacks targeting Iranian energy infrastructure.
Despite gains in the previous session driven by fears of escalation, both oil benchmarks are on track for their steepest weekly decline in six months, easing some pressure on global markets.
Trading activity at the PSX remained subdued, with 484 companies active in the ready market. Of these, 356 recorded losses, while only 71 advanced and 57 remained unchanged. Total trading volume stood at over 521 million shares, with a value of Rs27.1 billion.
Analysts say continued volatility is likely as investors closely monitor geopolitical developments and their impact on global energy markets and economic stability.
