KSE-100 falls 481.4 points as PSX caps week down 1.52%

Pakistan's benchmark KSE-100 index fell 481.4 points, or 0.29%, to close at 168,155.5 on Friday, extending a losing run that left the market 1.52% lower over the week, according to Arif Habib Limited. Selling was broad-based: of the 494 companies traded on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, 321 closed lower against 128 gainers, while 45 were unchanged.

Activity remained muted, with traded volume of 494 million shares and traded value of Rs17.5 billion, down from 548.38 million shares in the previous session. In its market review, Topline attributed the subdued participation to a lack of fresh triggers, elevated crude oil prices and the continuing stalemate in US-Iran relations. It said the index's outlook for the coming week remained focused on a potential move towards the September low near 166,000.

Arif Habib Limited said UBL (+0.76%), Mari Energies (+1.09%) and OGDC (+0.39%) contributed most to index gains, while Systems Ltd (-2.11%), Meezan Bank (-0.88%) and Lucky Cement (-0.63%) were the biggest drags. Topline said the top negative contributors were SYS, MEBL, LUCK, NBP and HBL, which cumulatively wiped off 269 points. By traded value, Maple Leaf Cement (Rs648 million), Askari Bank (Rs638 million), OGDC (Rs577 million), PPL (Rs543 million) and DG Khan Cement (Rs372 million) led activity. First National Equities was the volume leader with 42.51 million shares, gaining Rs0.01 to close at Rs1.22, followed by WorldCall Telecom with 40.08 million shares, unchanged at Re1, and DS Industries with 29.51 million shares, up Rs1.57 to close at Rs17.25. Foreign investors bought shares worth Rs250.8 million, the National Clearing Company reported.

Separately, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Thursday that Pakistan could secure a B+ sovereign credit rating by the first quarter (July-September) of fiscal year 2027-28, while cautioning that it was too early to determine whether the country's current $7 billion Extended Fund Facility with the IMF would be its last. Trade data for September 2026 showed a deficit of $3.6 billion, with exports of $2.9 billion, up 17.6% year on year, and imports of $6.5 billion, up 11%. Arif Habib Limited also noted that Khaadi Pakistan plans to raise up to Rs8.3 billion through a pre-IPO placement and an IPO to expand its retail footprint and convert its outlets into larger "Experience Stores".