The Pakistan Stock Exchange turned bearish on Thursday after a brief early rally, as rising geopolitical tensions surrounding possible United States military action in Iran unsettled investors and triggered cautious trading behaviour.
During intraday trading, the KSE-100 index initially climbed to 183,717.53 points due to early buying interest, but later reversed course and slipped by 69.29 points to 182,500.52.
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Market sentiment weakened after international officials warned that US military intervention in Iran appeared increasingly likely, with reports suggesting action could take place within the next twenty-four hours amid escalating Middle East tensions.
Reports indicated that Washington had begun evacuating personnel from a major air base in Qatar, while Tehran warned neighbouring countries that regional military airfields could be targeted if an attack was ordered.
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Meanwhile, Iran’s leadership is struggling to contain severe domestic unrest, prompting efforts to deter repeated US threats of intervention by issuing strong regional warnings and defensive signals.
A day earlier, the benchmark index had already suffered heavy losses, shedding 1,381.69 points or 0.75 percent, reflecting continued volatility as global political risks overshadowed local market fundamentals.