Pakistan’s stock market extended its losses on Thursday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index falling 1.71% to close at 162,994 points, as escalating geopolitical tensions dampened investor sentiment.
Market participants remained cautious amid the ongoing standoff involving United States and Iran, where continued naval restrictions on Iranian ports have prolonged uncertainty around nuclear negotiations.
The tensions have also kept the Strait of Hormuz under pressure disrupting global energy flows and pushing oil prices higher, which in turn triggered risk-off behavior across regional equity markets.
The decline was led by major index movers including United Bank Limited, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Fauji Fertilizer Company, National Bank of Pakistan, Engro Holdings, and Lucky Cement, which collectively pulled the index down by 1,293 points.
Within the cement sector, Lucky Cement announced its financial results for 3QFY26, reporting earnings per share of Rs. 13.02. While this marked a 6% year-on-year increase, earnings declined 16% on a quarterly basis.
The results fell short of market expectations due to weaker gross margins and reduced contribution from associated companies.
Trading activity remained moderate during the session, with total volume recorded at 837 million shares and overall traded value reaching Rs. 36 billion.
Analysts suggest that continued geopolitical uncertainty, particularly in the Middle East, could keep pressure on the Pakistan Stock Exchange in the near term, especially if oil prices remain elevated and global risk sentiment stays fragile.
