Selling pressure returned to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday after several sessions of gains, as investors turned cautious over renewed risks linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index fell sharply at the open, losing 739.72 points, or 0.41 percent, to 181,036.87 points by 9:30am.
The index later recovered some ground but remained in negative territory. By 10:25am, the KSE-100 was at 181,259.52 points, down 517.07 points, or 0.28 percent, with trading volume reaching 86.8 million shares.
During the session so far, the index moved between 180,620.08 and 181,647.27 points. It had closed at 181,776.59 points on Thursday.
Despite Friday’s early decline, the benchmark remained 24.45 percent higher than a year ago and was up 4.14 percent so far in 2026. The index’s 52-week range stood between 144,119.44 and 191,032.73 points.
Selling was spread across several major sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, fertiliser, exploration and production companies, and oil marketing companies.
Heavyweights such as Mari Petroleum (MARI), Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC), Pakistan Oilfields (POL), Pakistan Petroleum (PPL), Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), MCB Bank, Meezan Bank and National Bank of Pakistan traded lower.
Among the most active stocks, Cnergyico PK gained 2.13 percent to Rs11.49, while Nishat Chunian Power rose 4.65 percent to Rs64.80. Bank of Punjab was up 0.17 percent at Rs36.06 and Nishat Power climbed 3.09 percent to Rs74.41.
Sapphire Textile Mills led the gainers, rising 10.02 percent to Rs17.68. Several other stocks also posted gains of around 10 percent.
On the losing side, Arif Habib Corporation fell 9.08 percent to Rs55.60, while Asia Insurance dropped 8.46 percent to Rs42.10. Jahangir Siddiqui & Co declined 8.35 percent to Rs52.
The latest pullback follows a strong session on Thursday, when the KSE-100 jumped 1,761.66 points, or 0.98 percent, to close at 181,776.60.
Investors are now also watching developments around the Strait of Hormuz, where uncertainty over shipping access has added to concerns about energy supplies and oil prices.
Global markets were also cautious on Friday ahead of key US jobs data. Investors are looking for clues about the Federal Reserve’s next interest-rate move, with the July payrolls report expected to play a major role in shaping expectations.
Asian markets remained mixed, while rising oil prices kept Middle East tensions firmly in focus.
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