Pakistan stock market remains under pressure as investors stay cautious
The benchmark KSE-100 index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange extended losses on Friday, falling by more than 900 points amid continued selling pressure and cautious investor sentiment.
At the close of trading on May 15, 2026, the KSE-100 index settled at 165,596.07 points, down 902.76 points or 0.54% compared with the previous session.
During the session, the market touched an intraday high of 166,924.48 points and a low of 165,291.53 points, reflecting continued volatility throughout the trading day.
Total traded volume stood at 264.7 million shares, while the overall market value reached Rs15.36 billion.
Analysts at Topline Securities Limited said the market witnessed another dull trading session as investors remained cautious amid broader economic and geopolitical uncertainties.
According to the brokerage house, the index fluctuated between an intraday gain of 0.26% and a loss of 0.73% before closing in negative territory.
Major pressure on the benchmark index came from heavy-weight stocks including Bank Alfalah, Engro Holdings, Fauji Fertilizer Company, Lucky Cement, United Bank Limited, Oil and Gas Development Company, and Meezan Bank.
These stocks collectively dragged the KSE-100 index lower by more than 1,100 points, analysts said.
In terms of traded value, Bank of Punjab, United Bank Limited, Oil and Gas Development Company, Sazgar Engineering Works, and Pakistan Petroleum Limited remained among the most active stocks during the session.
Overall market participation remained moderate, with total traded volume reaching 623 million shares and total turnover standing at around Rs22 billion.
Market experts said investor sentiment remained fragile due to uncertainty surrounding regional geopolitical developments, energy prices, and economic policy direction.
They added that profit-taking in major index-heavy sectors continued to weigh on market performance despite relatively stable macroeconomic indicators.