PSX Closing Bell: Bears Have the Final Say

June 01, 2026 (MLN): The benchmark KSE-100 Index came under significant selling pressure on Monday, closing at 170,600.20, down by 3,362.61 points or 1.93%, as investors reacted to rising inflationary concerns and renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The index traded in a range of 3,774.79 points, reaching an intraday high of 174,171.64 (+208.83) and a low of 170,396.85 (-3,565.96) points. Total traded volume in the KSE-100 Index stood at 246.94 million shares.

Out of the 100 index companies, 15 closed higher while 85 declined, reflecting broad-based weakness across the market.

Among the top losers were GHGL (-5.81%), POWER (-5.41%), KTML (-4.74%), ENGROH (-4.59%), and KOHC (-4.57%). On the gaining side, HCAR (+10.00%), TRG (+7.07%), IBFL (+4.56%), INIL (+2.09%), and AIRLINK (+1.49%) posted gains.

In terms of index-point contribution, ENGROH (-427.70pts), FFC (-309.32pts), LUCK (-250.28pts), OGDC (-225.52pts), and PPL (-220.46pts) were the major drags on the benchmark index. Meanwhile, TRG (+60.60pts), HCAR (+24.07pts), POL (+15.17pts), COLG (+14.22pts), and AIRLINK (+9.45pts) helped cushion some of the losses.

Sector-wise, the market was weighed down by Commercial Banks (-680.81pts), Cement (-563.68pts), Oil & Gas Exploration Companies (-526.17pts), Fertilizer (-444.61pts), and Inv. Banks / Inv. Cos. / Securities Cos. (-439.13pts). Limited support came from Synthetic & Rayon (+5.47pts), Leather & Tanneries (+3.37pts), Textile Weaving (-0.20pts), Leasing Companies (-0.21pts), and Vanaspati & Allied Industries (-0.28pts).

In the broader market, the All-Share Index closed at 102,602.54, posting a decline of 1,576.07 points or 1.51%. Total market volume stood at 589.76 million shares, while traded value was recorded at Rs31.98 billion. A total of 445,427 trades were reported across 489 companies, with 168 closing higher, 296 lower, and 25 remaining unchanged.

Investor sentiment remained under pressure after Pakistan’s headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation accelerated to 11.7% year-on-year in May 2026, up from 10.9% in April and significantly higher than the 3.5% recorded in May 2025. The higher-than-expected inflation reading fueled concerns over the interest rate outlook and raised fears that monetary easing could be delayed, prompting selling in key index-heavy sectors.

Market participants also remained cautious as international oil prices moved higher following Israel’s announcement of expanded military operations in Lebanon. The development reignited concerns about escalating tensions in the Middle East and the possibility of disruptions to regional energy supplies, adding to uncertainty and encouraging risk-off sentiment across the Pakistan Stock Exchange.

To note, the KSE-100 has gained 44,973 points or 35.80% during the fiscal year, whereas it has decreased 3,454 points or 1.98% so far this calendar year.

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