The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) had a choppy session on Tuesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 index struggling to maintain its early gains amid renewed macroeconomic concerns. The market opened on a positive note, briefly touching the day’s high at 169,289.20, but momentum faded as the session progressed. Profit-taking in the last hours pushed the index into the red.
At the close, the KSE-100 had slipped to 167,642.28, down 419.92 points or 0.25%. The index also hit an intra-day low at 167,445.93, reflecting continued nervousness and reactive trading behavior.
Read: PSX sets a positive tone for December with a strong gain of 1,384 points
Investor confidence weakened further after new data showed Pakistan’s trade deficit widened to $2.9 billion in November 2025, a development that weighed heavily on confidence and encouraged investors to lock in gains rather than expand their exposure. Faced with mounting pressure from the external sector, market participants remained cautious throughout the day.
In its post-market note, KTrade Securities said the PSX recorded profit-taking in the second half after a recent strong rally, dragging the index down 419 points (-0.25%) to close at 167,642. Pressure came from Fauji Fertilizer, Hub Power, Pakistan Petroleum, Engro Corporation, Systems Limited and Oil & Gas Development Company.
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However, Lucky Cement outperformed, as did National Bank of Pakistan, Bestway Cement and Faysal Bank. Market participation remained strong, with All-Share volumes reaching 722 million. Looking ahead, KTrade noted that sentiment remains constructive, with the next IMF board meeting on December 8 and the expected tranche release likely to guide direction, while regional geopolitical shifts could shape near-term dynamics.
Overall, trading volume reached 775.5 million shares, up from 735.5 million on Monday. The value of shares traded stood at Rs37.4 billion. Shares of 479 companies were traded, of which 182 rose, 254 fell and 43 remained unchanged. WorldCall Telecom topped the volume chart with 169 million shares traded, losing Rs 0.04 to close at Rs 1.80.
