Karachi, April 11, 2025 – The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed another volatile session on Friday, as mounting global trade tensions and a sharp drop in international oil prices triggered widespread uncertainty in investor sentiment.
The benchmark KSE-100 index plunged by 1,336 points, closing at 114,853, down from the previous day’s level of 116,189 points.
Market experts attributed the day’s downturn to growing global unease, with investors reacting cautiously to continued tariff escalations between major economies. Muhammad Rizwan, Director of Brokerage at Chase Securities Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited, noted that the PSX is currently operating in a volatile environment, with both domestic and international factors driving sharp intraday fluctuations. “We expect the market to remain volatile heading into next week as investors keep a close watch on trade policy announcements and global commodity trends,” he said.
The trading volume on the PSX stood at 587 million shares on Friday, with the total value of trades recorded at PKR 40 billion. Despite significant turnover, bearish pressure dominated the session as selling intensified across multiple sectors.
The energy sector bore the brunt of the downturn, reacting to falling global oil prices. Key players such as PPL, OGDC, MARI, and POL witnessed declines of 1.5%, 2.2%, 1.8%, and 2.5%, respectively. With oil prices showing a volatile trajectory globally, energy stocks remain exposed to market mood swings.
Fertilizer stocks also saw a dip, following weak monthly sales figures and lingering concerns about the agricultural economy. Analysts believe that policy clarity will be needed before the sector can stabilize amid the current volatile outlook.
In contrast, pharmaceutical stocks emerged as a rare bright spot on the PSX. Investors responded positively to expectations of declining Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) prices due to reduced exports from China to the U.S., driven by newly imposed tariffs. The anticipated cost reduction helped the sector gain between 2% and 7%, providing some cushion in an otherwise volatile market.
While the broader trend remains bearish, market watchers suggest that the PSX could experience further volatile swings in the coming sessions, as geopolitical tensions and global economic developments continue to weigh heavily on investor confidence.