Pakistan Stock Exchange closes at 173,887 points as selling pressure in heavyweight stocks weighs on the benchmark, despite active trading.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed in negative territory on Friday as investors opted to book profits ahead of the long weekend, taking cues from the performance of international markets.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index declined by 0.85% to settle at 173,887 points, reflecting cautious investor sentiment and selling pressure in major stocks.
Market participants appeared inclined to secure gains following the recent bullish momentum, with profit-taking weighing on the benchmark index. The movement also reflected investor caution amid developments in international financial markets.
Heavyweight stocks remained under pressure during the session, contributing significantly to the index’s decline. UBL, LUCK, ENGROH, FFC and PPL emerged as the leading negative contributors, collectively dragging the KSE-100 Index down by 606 points.
The performance of these major companies played a substantial role in the market’s overall decline, offsetting potential support from other listed stocks.
OGDC and MLCF lead trading value
Trading activity remained active despite the negative market performance, with several stocks attracting considerable investor interest.
On a traded-value basis, Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) led the market with transactions worth Rs1.47 billion. Maple Leaf Cement Factory (MLCF) followed with a traded value of Rs1.09 billion.
DG Khan Cement (DGKC) recorded transactions worth Rs708 million, while Bank of Punjab (BOP) registered a traded value of Rs662 million. These stocks dominated trading activity among the leading companies by value.
Overall, trading volume reached 1.48 billion shares, while the total traded value stood at approximately Rs22.5 billion during the session.
The decline came as investors adopted a cautious approach before the long weekend, with profit-taking and weakness in major index constituents driving the market lower.
Despite the fall in the benchmark index, the substantial trading volume and value indicated continued participation by investors in the equity market.