PSX Closing Bell: Bears Run the Show

March 06, 2026 (MLN): After Thursday’s sharp rally, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) retreated on Friday as geopolitical risks and profit-taking weighed on investor sentiment.

The KSE-100 Index closed at 157,496.10, down 3,714.57 points or 2.30%, erasing a significant portion of the previous session’s gains.

The index traded in a range of 4,363.19 points, reaching an intraday high of 161,435.83 (+225.16) and a low of 157,072.64 (-4,138.03).

Total trading volume stood at 196.19 million shares, reflecting cautious participation following yesterday’s optimistic rally.

Market breadth was heavily negative, with 16 stocks closing higher, 82 declining, and 2 remaining unchanged.

Top gainers included DHPL (+7.92%), ATRL (+2.87%), BNWM (+2.49%), PSEL (+2.39%), and SRVI (+2.16%), while top losers were JVDC (-10.00%), PGLC (-9.09%), INIL (-7.32%), ILP (-7.07%), and UNITY (-6.15%).

In terms of index-point contributions, major drags were UBL (-435.40pts), ENGROH (-368.61pts), FFC (-278.41pts), LUCK (-236.44pts), and HUBC (-217.44pts). Companies providing limited support included ATRL (+31.98pts), SRVI (+26.01pts), DHPL (+22.61pts), PSEL (+21.42pts), and CHCC (+13.44pts).

Sector-wise, the retreat was led by Commercial Banks (-1,079.13pts), Fertilizer (-414.29pts), Cement (-412.48pts), Investment Banks / Investment Companies / Securities Companies (-365.83pts), and Technology & Communication (-269.83pts). Limited support came from Leather & Tanneries (+26.01pts), Refinery (+18.88pts), Miscellaneous (+13.81pts), Sugar & Allied Industries (+3.94pts), and Woollen (+0.22pts).

In the broader market, the All-Share Index closed at 94,227.00, down 1,870.28 points or 1.95%.

Total market volume was 363.15 million shares, while traded value declined to Rs23.11 billion, down Rs12.07 billion from the previous session. A total of 271,603 trades were executed in 468 companies, with 105 advancing, 311 declining, and 52 unchanged.

The pullback comes a day after Thursday’s broad-based rally, as investors booked profits amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and rising oil prices.

Global markets were also under pressure, with industrial giants sensitive to a potential slowdown in global trade, reinforcing caution among local investors and weighing on overall market sentiment.

To note, the KSE-100 has gained 31,869 points or 25.37% during the fiscal year, whereas it has decreased 16,558 points or 9.51% so far this calendar year.

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