May 18, 2026 (MLN): The benchmark KSE-100 Index witnessed a sharp decline on Monday, closing at 161,805.02, down by 3,791.05 points or 2.29%, as investor sentiment weakened amid concerns over Pakistan’s current account position and rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The index traded within a range of 3,325.57 points, reaching an intraday high of 164,939.08 (-656.99) and a low of 161,613.51 (-3,982.56) points. Total traded volume in the KSE-100 Index stood at 195.97 million shares.
Out of the 100 index companies, only 9 closed higher while 91 declined, reflecting widespread selling pressure across the market.
Among the top losers were GADT (-9.94%), TRG (-8.72%), PGLC (-6.97%), MEHT (-6.09%), and AIRLINK (-5.89%). On the gaining side, YOUW (+4.15%), IBFL (+2.12%), FHAM (+1.85%), MCB (+0.54%), and SNGP (+0.53%) posted limited gains.
In terms of index-point contribution, OGDC (-256.64pts), ENGROH (-241.47pts), MEBL (-232.26pts), PPL (-221.62pts), and UBL (-209.27pts) were the major drags on the benchmark index. Meanwhile, MCB (+31.32pts), SNGP (+4.52pts), COLG (+3.38pts), IBFL (+2.43pts), and FHAM (+1.84pts) helped partially offset losses.
Sector-wise, the market was weighed down by Commercial Banks (-983.18pts), Oil & Gas Exploration Companies (-599.34pts), Cement (-388.09pts), Fertilizer (-342.35pts), and Inv. Banks / Inv. Cos. / Securities Cos. (-256.10pts). On the other hand, modest support came from Synthetic & Rayon (+2.43pts), Modarabas (+1.84pts), Sugar & Allied Industries (+0.84pts), Textile Weaving (+0.68pts), and Woollen (-0.16pts).
In the broader market, the All-Share Index closed at 97,831.99, posting a decline of 2,185.72 points or 2.19%. Total market volume stood at 499.80 million shares, while traded value was recorded at Rs19.44 billion. A total of 370,881 trades were reported across 487 companies, with 66 closing higher, 383 lower, and 38 remaining unchanged.
Investor sentiment remained under pressure after Pakistan’s swung to a deficit of $324 million in April 2026, raising concerns over the country’s external financing outlook and putting pressure on cyclical and heavyweight sectors.
At the same time, global edged higher after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning toward Iran, while negotiations between Washington and Tehran remained stalled. The renewed geopolitical uncertainty fueled concerns over potential supply disruptions and higher energy import costs for Pakistan, prompting investors to adopt a risk-off approach throughout the session.
| Symbol | Price | Change % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSLNC | 5.12 | -11.57% | 40,063,156 |
| KEL | 8.15 | -3.66% | 32,512,543 |
| CSIL | 6.53 | 2.35% | 26,317,046 |
| CNERGY | 8.43 | -4.53% | 24,749,056 |
| HASCOLNC | 22.32 | -4.90% | 24,162,332 |
| BOP | 33.03 | -2.68% | 21,799,814 |
| WTL | 1.29 | -2.27% | 17,382,607 |
| FNEL | 1.32 | -4.35% | 13,096,459 |
| KOSM | 5.65 | -2.25% | 12,341,148 |
| PIAHCLA | 25.7 | 1.74% | 10,444,759 |
To note, the KSE-100 has gained 36,178 points or 28.80% during the fiscal year, whereas it has decreased 12,249 points or 7.04% so far this calendar year.