RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) concluded Tuesday’s trading session with most benchmark indices closing lower, as selling pressure persisted across multiple sectors.

The benchmark KSE-100 Index closed at 171,073.73 points, down 130.44 points or 0.08 percent from the previous session’s close of 171,204.18 points. The index recorded an intraday high of 171,867.32 points and a low of 170,968.31 points, indicating a narrow but consistently negative trading range.

BRIndex100 closed at 18,092.66, losing 25.20 points or 0.14 percent with a total turnover of 440.36 million shares. On the other hand, BRIndex30 edged down by 17.91 points or 0.03 percent to close at 58,347.81. The total volume on BRIndex30 stood at 284.99 million shares.

Topline Securities said the local bourse witnessed a choppy and range-bound session, as rollover-week adjustments kept investor sentiment cautious. It noted that trading activity remained selective amid ongoing position reshuffling, which limited any meaningful upside.

The brokerage added that investor focus stayed firmly on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) following the government’s move to offload a major liability, a development being closely watched for its potential fiscal and broader market implications.

On the contribution front, Topline Securities highlighted that HBL, KOHC, UBL, PTC, and DCR collectively added 324 points to the benchmark index, while ENGROH, FFC, SYS, and LUCK together wiped off 308 points, keeping the index in negative territory.

Trading activity in the ready market remained moderate. Total volume stood at 650.14 million shares, down from 684.55 million shares in the previous session. The traded value amounted to Rs28.26 billion, compared with Rs30.10 billion previously. Correspondingly, total market capitalization declined to Rs19.396 trillion, from Rs19.436 trillion a day earlier.

In terms of market breadth, selling dominated the session. Of the 481 companies traded in the ready market, 287 closed lower, 151 recorded gains, and 43 ended unchanged, reflecting a negative advance-to-decline ratio.

Activity in the ready market was led by PIA Holding Company Limited, which topped the volume chart with a turnover of 45.03 million shares. The stock closed at Rs37.62. K-Electric Limited followed with 39.47 million shares traded, closing at Rs5.88. Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) recorded a turnover of 32.27 million shares, closing higher at Rs49.25.

On the gainers’ side, Khyber Textile Mills Limited recorded the highest increase, rising by Rs78.92 to close at Rs1,789.17, followed by Hafiz Limited, which advanced Rs26.39 to close at Rs538.01.

Conversely, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) registered the steepest decline, shedding Rs1,263.68 to close at Rs20,986.33, while Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited declined by Rs251.03 to close at Rs12,081.37.

Sector-wise performance remained mixed during the session. The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 24,198.71, gaining 133.87 points or 0.56 percent, with a total turnover of 1.63 million shares. The BR Cement Index ended at 14,314.06, up 4.14 points or 0.03 percent, on a turnover of 31.01 million shares.

The BR Commercial Banks Index advanced by 254.76 points or 0.50 percent to close at 51,461.19, recording a total volume of 45.98 million shares. In contrast, the BR Power Generation and Distribution Index declined by 283.95 points or 1.03 percent to settle at 27,401.43, with turnover standing at 75.99 million shares.

Meanwhile, the BR Oil and Gas Index closed at 14,285.01, shedding 90.91 points or 0.63 percent, on a volume of 26.98 million shares, while the BR Technology and Communication Index ended the session at 4,107.37, down 19.44 points or 0.47 percent, with a total turnover of 103.94 million shares.