The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a sharp downturn on Wednesday morning as the benchmark KSE-100 index plunged nearly 6,500 points in early intraday trading, marking one of the most significant single-day drops in recent memory.
The index nosedived by 6,560 points, falling to 107,007, representing a 5.78 percent decline from the previous close. At 9:35 AM, it had already lost 5,016 points, down 4.42 percent, and was trading at 108,552. The massive sell-off sparked panic across the market, with trading volumes spiking and investor sentiment plummeting.
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As of the latest update, a total of 32.39 million shares had been exchanged with a cumulative value of Rs. 1.442 billion. Activity was widespread, with 298 companies participating in the session. However, only 12 managed to post gains, while 277 recorded losses. The prices of 9 companies remained unchanged.
Leading the market in terms of volume was WorldCall Telecom Limited (WTL), which saw over 3.75 million shares traded at a price of Rs. 1.23, down Rs. 0.10. Bank of Punjab (BOP) followed with 2.37 million shares traded at Rs. 9.10, marking a decrease of Rs. 0.69. Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and K-Electric Limited (KEL) also recorded significant activity, with declines of Rs. 2.58 and Rs. 0.23, respectively.
Other high-volume stocks included Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL), Fauji Foods Limited (FFL), and Cnergyico PK Limited (CNERGY), all showing notable losses as the broader market downturn took its toll.
Market analysts attribute the crash to a combination of geopolitical tensions, macroeconomic concerns, and speculative sell-offs. The sharp decline is expected to have far-reaching implications on investor confidence and could trigger a chain reaction in the days to come if stabilizing measures are not implemented.
