KARACHI, March 9, 2026: The benchmark KSE-100 Index suffered a dramatic collapse on Monday, plunging by more than 11,000 points in one of the steepest single-day declines in the history of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The market downturn was primarily triggered by a sharp surge in global crude oil prices and rising geopolitical tensions.
The KSE-100 Index closed the trading session at 146,480.14 points, down 11,015.96 points, reflecting a 6.99 percent decline compared with the previous close of 157,496.10 points. Market analysts noted that this marks the second-largest single-day drop ever recorded in the benchmark index, following the historic decline of 16,089 points witnessed earlier.
During intraday trading, the index touched a high of 150,174.09 points and a low of 144,119.43 points, highlighting the extreme volatility that gripped the market.
PSX Market Summary – March 9, 2026
| Market Indicator | Value |
| Market Status | Closed |
| Current Index | 146,480.14 |
| Change | -11,015.96 |
| Percent Change | -6.99% |
| Day’s High | 150,174.09 |
| Day’s Low | 144,119.43 |
| Previous Close | 157,496.10 |
| Volume | 378,012,095 |
| Market Value | Rs33,004,278,586 |
Trading at the PSX was temporarily halted after the KSE-30 Index fell more than 5 percent, activating a market-wide circuit breaker designed to control panic selling.
Market sentiment remained under intense pressure after global oil prices surged above $110 per barrel following Iran’s move to close the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global energy shipments.
Heavyweight stocks including Fauji Fertilizer Company, United Bank Limited, Engro Holdings, Hub Power Company, and Lucky Cement emerged among the biggest laggards, collectively dragging the index down by nearly 4,497 points.
Despite the steep decline, market participation remained active. Total trading volume reached 621 million shares, with turnover standing at approximately Rs37 billion. The K-Electric dominated the volume leaders’ board, recording trading of more than 127 million shares during the session.
Analysts warn that continued volatility in global energy markets could keep the PSX under pressure in the coming days as investors remain cautious amid escalating geopolitical risks.