KSE-100 falls 2,288 points as political noise weighs on PSX

Pakistan's benchmark KSE-100 Index closed Monday at 165,867.32 points, down 2,288.17 points or 1.36 per cent from the previous session's 168,155.49, in a broadly bearish session for the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The decline came amid escalating geopolitical tensions and increasing political noise at home, according to the market report.

Market breadth was heavily negative. Of 499 companies that traded in the ready market, 55 advanced, 409 declined and 35 were unchanged. Trading volume fell to 441.898 million shares from 493.957 million in the previous session, while traded value slipped to Rs15.709 billion from Rs17.491 billion. Market capitalisation dropped to Rs18.464 trillion from Rs18.725 trillion a day earlier.

F. Nat. Equities led the volume chart with 50.252 million shares, followed by Pak Int. Bulk with 30.666 million shares and Cnergyico PK with 30.042 million shares. Among the gainers, Dadex Eternit Limited rose Rs13.14 to close at Rs144.55, while Pakistan Synthetics Limited added Rs11.61 to settle at Rs183.95. On the losing side, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited fell Rs472.40 to Rs25,016.00 and PIA Holding Company Limited declined Rs150.50 to Rs15,000.00.

In the futures (DFC) market, turnover stood at 91.217 million shares worth Rs4.552 billion, compared with 94.041 million shares worth Rs5.370 billion in the previous session. Of the 296 companies traded there, 15 advanced, 281 declined and none remained unchanged.