Pakistan Stock Exchange drops 718 points amid geopolitical tensions

The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s benchmark KSE‑100 index closed 718 points lower, down about 0.42%, after a volatile trading session. The market opened with heavy selling, plunging more than 1,800 points to an intraday low of 169,512. A mid‑session rally lifted the index to a high of 172,718, but profit‑taking resumed later and the index finished at 171,021.

The decline follows a larger sell‑off the previous day, when the index fell 2,690 points (1.54%) as rising tensions between the United States and Iran and a sharp jump in crude‑oil prices dampened investor confidence. Additional uncertainty stemmed from a U.S. announcement of higher tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners. Brent crude retreated to $97.69 per barrel after briefly crossing $102, while higher bond yields and persistent inflation concerns kept global markets cautious.

The slide highlights the sensitivity of Pakistan’s equity market to regional geopolitical developments and commodity‑price volatility.