The Pakistan stock market slipped into the red on Wednesday as the KSE-100 index dropped 793.56 points (0.47%), to settle at 166,553.27. The downturn came after a relatively calm trading day, with a sudden burst of late-session selling pressure dragging the benchmark into negative territory.
The index had been trading within a narrow range for much of the day but fell sharply in the closing hour, hitting an intra-day low of 166,230.89. Market analysts say investors engaged in profit-taking following recent gains, which put downward pressure on key sectors.
International markets also influenced the mood, with global shares pulling back and gold losing ground, adding to risk aversion among local investors. Despite recent optimism driven by a cease-fire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the late-day sell-off suggests broader caution is resurfacing.
Market participants will be watching closely how duties, currency fluctuations and external economic indicators impact investor sentiment in the coming sessions. For now, the sharp pull-back signals a need for renewed momentum to sustain any bullish trend on the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
