Karachi, February 21, 2025 – The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a significant downturn on Friday, with the benchmark KSE-100 index losing 938 points, or 0.82%, as investors opted for profit-taking ahead of the weekend.
The index closed at 112,801 points, retreating from the previous day’s close of 113,739 points.
The trading session at PSX initially began on a positive note, with the KSE-100 index surging to an intra-day high of 114,444 points. However, as the day progressed, selling pressure intensified, dragging the index down to an intra-day low of 112,814 points before it marginally recovered by the closing bell.
According to a report from Topline Securities, “The market opened strong, driven by optimism surrounding LUCK PA, following the company’s announcement of a stock split where shareholders will receive five shares for every one share held. However, profit-taking dominated the second half of the session, as investors chose to cash in their gains before the weekend.”
The downward trend at PSX coincided with reports that an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission is set to visit Islamabad next week to discuss a potential $1 billion climate financing program for Pakistan. The anticipation of these discussions, coupled with investor caution, contributed to the overall volatility in the market.
Thursday’s trading session at PSX saw a brief respite, with the KSE-100 index gaining nearly 400 points to settle at 113,739.16. However, the overall performance for the week remained subdued, with the index managing only a marginal gain of 0.63%. Analysts observed that investor sentiment remained mixed, with a keen focus on December quarter earnings reports.
Despite the week’s flat performance, market participants at PSX remain watchful of key economic developments, including corporate earnings announcements and discussions with the IMF. The upcoming trading sessions will be crucial in determining whether the market can regain its positive momentum or if further corrections lie ahead.
With investors maintaining a cautious stance, the Pakistan Stock Exchange is expected to remain volatile, with external economic factors and domestic financial updates playing a significant role in shaping market trends in the coming days.
