KARACHI, April 23, 2026 – The benchmark KSE-100 Index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange declined sharply on Thursday, falling 1.4% as escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz weighed heavily on investor sentiment.
Market participants said fears of a possible blockade and reports of disruptions in the key global shipping route triggered broad-based selling across major sectors, driving the index deep into negative territory during intraday trade.
KSE-100 Index Closing Snapshot (April 23, 2026)
Indicator Value
| Market Status | Closed |
| Current Index | 169,173.37 |
| Change | -2,405.93 |
| Percent Change | -1.40% |
| High | 171,561.74 |
| Low | 168,416.02 |
| Volume | 310,837,839 shares |
| Previous Close | 171,579.30 |
| Value Traded | Rs20,084,410,942 |
According to analysts at Topline Securities Limited, bearish sentiment dominated trading as investors reacted to rising geopolitical uncertainty and awaited potential diplomatic developments involving Iranian and U.S. officials.
“Bears returned to centre stage as tensions flared around the Strait of Hormuz, where reports of blockades and vessel seizures rattled global sentiment,” analysts noted. They added that uncertainty over possible peace talks continued to keep risk appetite subdued.
During the session, the index plunged by as much as 3,163 points intraday before recovering slightly to close at 169,173, still down 2,405 points.
Heavyweight stocks including Fauji Fertilizer Company, United Bank Limited, Meezan Bank, Pakistan Petroleum Limited and Bank Alfalah collectively dragged the index down by nearly 942 points.
Trading activity remained relatively subdued, with volumes recorded at 1.32 billion shares and turnover of Rs30.8 billion. First National Equities Limited topped the volume chart with 286 million shares traded.
Analysts expect volatility to persist as geopolitical developments continue to shape market direction in the near term.