Karachi, February 17, 2026 – The benchmark KSE-100 index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed sharply lower on Tuesday, shedding 1,304 points amid a highly volatile trading session driven by sustained foreign selling and cautious investor sentiment.
The KSE-100 index ended the day at 173,150 points, down from the previous close of 174,454 points, marking a decline of 0.75 percent. Market participants witnessed sharp intraday swings, reflecting uncertainty and aggressive trading activity across key sectors.
Analysts at Topline Securities Limited said that the local bourse remained under pressure, extending its losing streak as persistent foreign corporate selling dampened sentiment. The session was marked by heightened volatility, with the index surging to an intraday high of +1,677 points before heavy selling dragged it to a low of -2,760 points. By the close, sustained offloading in heavyweight stocks continued to weigh on overall momentum.
Index-heavy constituents including Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Habib Bank Limited (HBL), Engro Holdings (ENGROH), United Bank Limited (UBL), Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) led the decline, collectively eroding 892 points from the benchmark. On the positive side, Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Millat Tractors (MTL), and Bank of Punjab (BOP) provided some support, adding 359 points.
Meanwhile, PSO announced its 2QFY26 financial results, posting an unconsolidated profit of Rs 2.7 billion with earnings per share of Rs 5.82. However, the results fell short of market expectations due to higher inventory losses and an elevated effective tax rate.
Despite the negative close, trading activity remained robust. Total volumes stood at 716 million shares, while market turnover reached Rs 40.4 billion. K-Electric (KEL) dominated the volumes chart, with over 122 million shares traded, reflecting continued investor interest in selected scrips.