Pakistan Market Wrap: Selling Pressure Deepens Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty – By HMFS Research
Oct 29 2025
HMFS Research
- Selling persisted at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) as investor sentiment remained fragile following the inconclusive talks between Islamabad and Kabul, which failed to yield any diplomatic breakthrough. The benchmark KSE-100 Index lost momentum early in the session, eventually closing 1,636 points lower at 158,465, after oscillating between an intraday high of 160,690 and a low of 158,307, marking an overall swing of nearly 2,383 points. Market activity remained robust, with 390mn shares traded on the benchmark index and 950mn shares across the broader market.
- Among the most actively traded names were KEL (93mn), HASCOL (54mn), and WTL (51mn). Adding to the day’s lackluster mood was the State Bank’s decision to keep the policy rate unchanged, which offered little support to equities, as investors looked past the announcement despite its optimistic undertone on growth and post-flood recovery. Going forward, market direction is likely to hinge on the evolution of regional tensions and upcoming IMF tranche, external flows and inflation dynamics. We advise investors to maintain a selective stance, focusing on fundamentally resilient names with strong balance sheets and defensive earnings profiles until clarity emerges on the geopolitical and policy fronts.
