Pakistan’s benchmark equity index, the KSE-100, came under sharp pressure on Friday morning, falling by more than 2,000 points in early intraday trading as investor sentiment remained cautious. By 10:55am, the index had slipped significantly from its previous close, reflecting a broad-based decline across multiple sectors at the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
The KSE-100 lost around 1.1 percent from its last closing level of 187,832 points recorded on Wednesday, bringing the index down to 185,765.07 points during early trading on Friday. The market had remained closed on Thursday, and the sharp move on reopening indicated a delayed reaction to prevailing economic and corporate developments. Selling pressure was evident as investors adjusted positions amid ongoing volatility in both local and international markets.
Despite the overall downturn, trading activity remained strong in several high-volume stocks. K-Electric emerged as the most actively traded stock of the session, with a volume of 207,059,103 shares. The stock moved against the broader market trend, rising by 5.54 percent to trade at Rs8.77. The surge in volume highlighted continued investor interest in the energy sector, even as the benchmark index declined.
National Bank of Pakistan was the second most active stock, with a trading volume of 33,116,438 shares. However, the stock witnessed a sharp decline, falling by 7.13 percent to Rs266. Bank of Punjab also remained under pressure, dropping by 7.13 percent to Rs40.42 on a volume of 27,288,113 shares. The weakness in major banking stocks weighed on the index, reflecting concerns around the financial sector and broader economic conditions.
Adding to market developments, K-Electric disclosed that its Chief Executive Officer, Moonis Alvi, stepped down from his position on Friday. The information was shared through an official disclosure submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The announcement drew attention from investors and contributed to heightened activity in the company’s shares, making it a focal point of the trading session.
On the gainers’ side, a number of smaller-cap stocks recorded strong upward movements despite the negative market tone. First Elite Capital Modaraba led the advancers, rising by 10.02 percent to Rs22.5. Arpak International Investments Ltd. followed closely, gaining 10 percent to reach Rs66, while East West Insurance Company Limited also advanced by 10 percent to trade at Rs51.15. These gains indicated selective buying interest in specific segments of the market.
Conversely, several stocks faced steep losses. First Tri-Star Modaraba was among the top decliners, falling by 10.01 percent to Rs43.25. Janana De Malucho Textile Mills Limited declined by 9.29 percent to Rs122.02, while Dewan Textile Mills Limited dropped by 9 percent to Rs6.88. The losses in textile and modaraba stocks added to the overall negative sentiment.
The early trading session reflected a market grappling with uncertainty, as investors balanced corporate developments, sector-specific news, and broader economic signals. While select stocks attracted buying interest, the sharp fall in the KSE-100 underscored the fragile mood prevailing at the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
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