PSX Closing Bell: A Brutal Red Finish

October 22, 2026 (MLN): The benchmark KSE-100 Index plunged 2,006.67 points or 1.21% on Thursday to close at 163,924.31, as broad-based selling gripped the market amid rising oil prices and renewed concerns over escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Crude prices climbed following fresh Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia, raising fears of a broader regional conflict and prolonged disruptions to energy supplies from the Middle East. The development added pressure to investor sentiment, with concerns over higher import costs and external account pressures weighing on the local market.

The index traded within a range of 2,397.91 points, touching an intraday high of 166,180.32, up 249.34 points, before falling to a low of 163,782.41, down 2,148.57 points.

KSE-100 volume stood at 118.89m shares, while market breadth remained sharply negative as 85 index companies closed lower, 13 higher, and 2 unchanged.

PTC led the losers with a decline of 9.91%, followed by NCPL (-4.76%), POWER (-4.67%), ATRL (-4.22%), and NPL (-4.11%).

On the gaining side, UPFL rose 4.36%, followed by THCCL (+2.36%), AIRLINK (+1.12%), NESTLE (+0.59%), and GAL (+0.52%).

ENGROH emerged as the biggest drag on the index, erasing 185.51 points, followed by UBL (-174.71pts), HUBC (-147.44pts), HBL (-136.41pts), and PTC (-109.60pts).

Meanwhile, UPFL provided the highest positive contribution of 22.61 points, while MCB, THCCL, NESTLE, and AIRLINK added 21.89pts, 9.52pts, 6.59pts, and 5.54pts, respectively.

Sector-wise, Commercial Banks led the decline with a negative contribution of 520.00 points, followed by Cement (-232.23pts), Inv. Banks / Inv. Cos. / Securities Cos. (-204.37pts), Power Generation & Distribution (-196.54pts), and Technology & Communication (-163.61pts).

The index received limited support from Food & Personal Care Products (+14.95pts) and Glass & Ceramics (+0.51pts), while Close-End Mutual Fund and Synthetic & Rayon remained flat.

In the broader market, the All-Share Index settled at 99,526.87, recording a loss of 1,083.61 points or 1.08%.

Total market volume declined to 367.09m shares from 379.90m in the previous session, while traded value fell by Rs3.28bn to Rs18.00bn.

A total of 307,881 trades were recorded across 493 companies, with 100 stocks closing higher, 355 lower, and 38 remaining unchanged.

To note, the KSE-100 has lost 16,377 points or 9.08% during the fiscal year, whereas it has decreased 10,130 points or 5.82% so far this calendar year.

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