The Pakistan Stock Exchange experienced a significant downturn on Friday, as the benchmark KSE100 index shed over 550 points, accompanied by a steep contraction in investor activity that saw the daily traded value plummet by more than PKR 11.8 billion.
The benchmark KSE100 index concluded the trading session at 171,404.49, marking a substantial loss of 556.16 points, or 0.32 percent, from the previous close. The index fluctuated throughout the day, reaching a high of 172,674.65 before touching a low of 171,149.07.
Similarly, the KSE30 index registered a decline, closing at 52,413.79. It was down by 143.72 points, a decrease of 0.27 percent, after trading between a high of 52,824.31 and a low of 52,307.01.
Market participation also weakened considerably. The total turnover in the regular market fell to 797.53 million shares, a sharp decrease from the 950.15 million shares traded on the preceding day. Consequently, the traded value shrank to PKR 42.22 billion from the previous session”s PKR 54.07 billion.
The bearish sentiment eroded the market’s overall value, with the total market capitalization contracting to PKR 19,457.16 trillion from PKR 19,498.11 trillion, wiping out approximately PKR 40.95 billion in a single day.
Activity in other market segments was mixed, with Deliverable Future Contracts (DFC) turnover seeing a marginal increase while its traded value declined. The Odd Lot Market (ODL) witnessed a sharp fall in both volume and value.