On Thursday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) encountered a challenging session as the primary index witnessed a substantial decline of 3.86 per cent, reflecting a loss of 1,784 points by 2:53 pm. This notable downturn was attributed to growing concerns pertaining to the nation’s economic landscape.
Investors were worried about the rupee losing value against the dollar. This concern led them to sell off their shares, fearing that the economy could face trouble ahead.
Right from the start of the trading day, the KSE-100 index saw a big fall of over 1,100 points, taking it below the 46,000 mark. Unfortunately, the index couldn’t bounce back due to low investor confidence.
By 2:14 PM, the PSX had fallen to 45,139.34 points, a drop of 1,105.21 points compared to the previous day’s close of 46,244.55 points.
Investors are also keeping an eye on the rupee’s decline, especially since the International Monetary Fund (IMF) won’t review the situation for a few more months. Additionally, there’s uncertainty about investments from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
If the market keeps falling, some buyers might return, as the index is currently down 8 per cent from its recent high. But a real recovery would need clear information about politics and the economy.
According to experts, the PSX is under pressure due to the rupee’s continuous slide.
This could cause inflation to rise, which could affect the next Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in September. During that meeting, the central bank might consider raising interest rates again.
The financial market is worried about public protests against higher power tariffs. If the government tries to please the public with short-term measures, it could complicate talks with the IMF.
This report serves as an intraday update on the developments in the Pakistan Stock Exchange as of 2:53 pm.
