KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange ended sharply lower on Thursday as heavy selling pressure wiped out early gains, pushing the benchmark KSE-100 Index down by 1,332 points.
The index closed at 168,636 points, compared with 169,969 points in the previous session, reflecting a steep decline as investors turned cautious later in the day.
Trading had started on a positive note, with the KSE-100 gaining as much as 699 points and briefly moving above the 170,600 level during early trade.
The initial momentum, however, proved short-lived.
Selling pressure intensified as the session progressed, forcing the index to reverse its gains and remain under pressure through the closing hours.
The sharp turnaround highlighted the volatility that dominated Thursday’s trading, with the market swinging from strong early advances to a sizeable decline by the close.
The fall also reduced the overall market value of listed companies, translating into billions of rupees in losses for investors.
Market activity remained volatile throughout the session as traders responded to shifting sentiment and profit-taking pressure.
The benchmark ultimately settled at 168,636 points, down 1,332 points from the previous close.