KSE-100 Index declines 0.11% as investors remain cautious ahead of the Independence Day holiday.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed slightly lower on Thursday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index falling 206.6 points, or 0.11%, to settle at 180,104.61 points.

The market remained largely range-bound during the session as investors stayed cautious in the absence of fresh positive triggers. The KSE-100 Index touched an intraday high of 181,433.85 points and a low of 180,035.92 points, according to data released by the PSX.

Market participation remained active, with 891.3 million shares changing hands, while the total traded value stood at Rs36.7 billion. The PSX recorded 197 advancing stocks against 269 declining stocks, while 97 remained unchanged.

On the positive side, FFC, SRVI and HBL were among the stocks supporting the benchmark, while ENGROH, SYS and HMB emerged as notable drags on the index.

The latest decline came after the market had remained volatile in recent sessions, with investors closely monitoring geopolitical developments, international oil prices and corporate earnings for fresh direction.

Oil prices remained an important factor for market sentiment, with crude prices hovering around the $87-$90 per barrel range, keeping investors cautious about the potential impact on Pakistan’s external account and inflation outlook.

The market will remain closed on Friday, August 14, due to the Independence Day public holiday, extending the weekend break. Trading is scheduled to resume on Monday, with investors expected to look for fresh macroeconomic, corporate or geopolitical catalysts before taking stronger positions.