The Pakistan Stock Exchange came under strong selling pressure on Wednesday as the KSE-100 Index fell more than 1,300 points. The decline erased early gains and reflected growing investor caution. Market sentiment weakened amid profit-taking and broader economic uncertainty.
The benchmark index dropped to 167,054 points, marking a decline of 1,358 points or 0.81 percent. The market initially traded in positive territory before reversing direction before midday. Heavy selling pressure pushed the index to an intraday low during the session.
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Losses were broad-based across key sectors including banks, oil and gas exploration, oil marketing companies, power generation, and refineries. These heavyweight sectors dragged the overall index lower as investors exited positions. Market direction shifted from early optimism to sustained decline.
Trading activity remained strong with volumes crossing 256 million shares. However, selling pressure dominated as investors opted to book profits. The previous session had also closed in negative territory following a policy rate hike by the central bank.
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Analysts said recent monetary tightening has impacted investor confidence and business outlook. Stocks such as UBL and fertiliser companies contributed to the decline, while a few counters posted gains. The market continues to react to interest rate decisions and macroeconomic signals.