The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw a tough start to the week as the KSE-100 index dropped by 1,265 points, reflecting a bearish trend due to economic uncertainty and weak market sentiment. Investors remained cautious as concerns over foreign outflows, the rupee’s instability, and lower crude oil prices pressured the benchmark index. The KSE-30 index also recorded a decline, mirroring the downturn in major stocks like ENGROH, UBL, MCB, MTL, and PPL. The trading volumes saw a significant decrease, dropping to 208.881 million shares, compared to the previous session’s 472.078 million shares. Despite a few green spots, most stocks ended in the red, with notable losses in Shifa Hospitals, Bata, and Packages Limited.

The ongoing Pakistan-IMF talks and concerns about the monetary policy stance added to investor anxiety, affecting market capital, which shrank to Rs13.84 trillion. Analysts, including Arif Habib, Naveed Nadeem, and Muhammad Hasan Ather, highlighted that upcoming fiscal targets, negotiations, and the State Bank’s decision would determine the next trading session’s direction. In futures trading, turnover remained low, with 332 companies recorded, of which only 68 gained while 257 saw further losses. Stocks such as Hoechst, Citi Pharma, Cnergyico, and Fauji Cement showed mixed performance. As Ramadan approaches, many investors remain on the sidelines, waiting for clarity on the market outlook.