Karachi, June 18, 2025 – The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) endured a lackluster trading session on Wednesday as the escalating Iran-Israel conflict continued to dampen investor sentiment and increase uncertainty across financial markets.
The benchmark KSE-100 index of the PSX closed the day with a significant drop of 1,505 points, finishing at 120,466 compared to the previous day’s closing of 121,971 points. This marks one of the sharpest single-day losses in recent weeks, reflecting the nervousness prevailing in both local and global trading environments.
According to analysts at Topline Securities, the PSX witnessed a volatile session, with the KSE-100 index plunging by as much as 1,553 points during intraday trading before recouping some losses toward the end. The overall decline of 1.23% was largely attributed to geopolitical anxiety and an overall lack of positive triggers to support the market.
Investor confidence took a hit as tensions between Iran and Israel intensified, prompting market participants to adopt a cautious, risk-averse stance. The uncertainty kept the trading directionless for most of the session, with many investors opting to stay on the sidelines.
Major index-heavy stocks such as ENROH, PKGP, PPL, MARI, and UBL were among the biggest laggards, collectively dragging the index down by 488 points. The selling pressure on these key counters highlighted the fragile state of sentiment prevailing at the PSX.
Overall trading participation remained subdued. Volume stood at 703 million shares, with the total market turnover reaching PKR 21 billion. WorldCall Telecom (WTL) led the volumes chart, with an impressive 110 million shares changing hands, but broader participation across sectors remained weak.
Market observers expect the PSX to remain volatile in the near term, especially if geopolitical tensions worsen. Investors are advised to tread cautiously and monitor international developments closely, as global uncertainty continues to overshadow domestic fundamentals and influence trading behavior at the PSX.