The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed one of the steepest crashes in its history on Monday as the benchmark KSE-100 Index plunged more than 15,000 points in early trading.
The dramatic selloff came amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, which rattled global markets and triggered panic selling at the opening bell.
Historic Early-Morning Collapse
Within the first hour of trading, the KSE-100 index nosedived by 15,070 points — nearly 10% — falling to 152,991.01 points.
The sharp decline prompted an automatic trading halt under market regulations, suspending activity for an hour to contain volatility.
Out of 567 traded companies:
Only 5 were in positive territory
179 remained unchanged
383 stocks declined
Investors reportedly lost billions of rupees within minutes of market opening.
Across-the-Board Selling
Heavy selling pressure was seen across major sectors including:
Automobile assemblers
Cement
Commercial banks
Fertiliser
Oil & gas exploration
Power generation
Refineries
Index-heavy stocks such as HBL, MCB, MEBL, OGDC, PPL, POL and HUBCO traded sharply lower.
Geopolitical Shockwaves
The market had remained closed over the weekend when US and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran, intensifying regional tensions.
The fallout has amplified investor concerns over global instability, foreign capital outflows and economic uncertainty.
Last week, the KSE-100 had already declined 5,107 points (2.9%) week-on-week, closing at 168,062.17 points, reflecting sustained pressure even before Monday’s crash.
What’s Next?
Market analysts suggest volatility could persist if geopolitical tensions escalate further, particularly if energy prices continue rising or foreign investment flows remain under strain.
For now, investor sentiment remains fragile, with traders closely watching international developments.
