Karachi, February 19, 2026 – The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed heavy selling on Thursday, causing the benchmark KSE-100 index to drop over 3,700 points during intraday trading. Investor sentiment was weak as major sectors faced pressure, reflecting cautious trading amid macroeconomic concerns and profit-taking activity.
At 12:04 PM PKT, the KSE-100 index stood at 175,141.86 points, down 3,711.23 points or 2.08% from the previous close of 178,853.09 points. Market participants reported high trading volumes, with a total of 97.5 million shares exchanged across the board. The index recorded an intraday high of 179,279.74 points and a low of 175,101.97 points, showing significant volatility throughout the morning session.
Analysts noted that selling pressure was broad-based, with both banking and energy stocks contributing heavily to the decline. The market value of shares traded reached over Rs 10.54 billion, indicating active participation despite the downtrend. Traders advised monitoring global cues and local economic indicators, which continue to influence the market sentiment.
Investors are expected to remain cautious as the market digests recent macroeconomic developments, including interest rate policies, inflation data, and corporate earnings announcements. Analysts suggest focusing on fundamentally strong stocks while avoiding speculative trading amid heightened volatility.
KSE-100 Intraday Snapshot – February 19, 2026
| Parameter | Value |
| Current Index | 175,141.86 |
| Change | -3,711.23 |
| Percent Change | -2.08% |
| High | 179,279.74 |
| Low | 175,101.97 |
| Volume | 97,521,307 |
| Previous Close | 178,853.09 |
| Value Traded (PKR) | 10,540,208,913 |
The PSX remains under pressure as investors weigh domestic economic concerns alongside global market trends, making careful stock selection crucial in the current environment.