The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened lower on Wednesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index losing nearly 400 points in the first half-hour of trading.
At 9:40am, the index stood at 156,181.72, marking a decline of 381.80 points, or 0.24%. Analysts attributed the drop to profit-taking after several sessions of sustained gains.
Sectors leading the decline included cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration firms, and power generation. Index-heavy stocks such as ARL, HUBCO, OGDC, POL, PSO, WAFI, HBL, MCB, MEBL, and UBL traded in the red.
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The retreat comes just a day after the PSX closed on a strong note, adding 476.22 points, or 0.31%, to settle at 156,563.53. Market watchers say Wednesday’s decline is part of normal market correction rather than a sign of weakening fundamentals.
International cues remain supportive, with Asian equities climbing in early trade. Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.3%, South Korea’s KOSPI jumped 1.3%, and Taiwan’s benchmark surged to a record high.
Still, local investors appear cautious as the KSE-100 consolidates near record territory. Analysts warn that volatility may persist as investors book profits while awaiting new triggers.
