The KSE-100 index closed the week at 171,021.20 points at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), down 2.7%, or 4,782 points, as persistent geopolitical uncertainty and cautious investor sentiment kept the market under pressure for a third consecutive week. Escalating tensions, including the Houthis' announcement of a Red Sea blockade that pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel, weighed on sentiment. On the macro front, S&P Global Ratings upgraded Pakistan's long-term sovereign credit rating to 'B' from 'B-' with a stable outlook, citing IMF-backed reforms, improved fiscal performance and stronger foreign exchange reserves.
On a day-on-day basis, the PSX commenced the trading week with a volatile session on Monday. The KSE-100 recovered from early losses to close on a flattish note at 175,928, up 125 points (+0.07%). The bourse witnessed a consolidation session on Tuesday, with the index again closing flat at 176,134, gaining just 206 points (+0.12%).
The market faced a negative session on Wednesday, declining 1,704 points (-0.97%) to close at 174,430. It registered another day of bearish trading on Thursday, when the index lost 2,691 points (-1.54%) and settled at 171,739. PSX culminated the week with a mixed session as the KSE-100 shed 718 points (-0.42%) to close at 171,021.
Arif Habib Limited (AHL) noted that the KSE-100 index closed at 171,021.20, down 2.7% week-on-week (-4,782 points), as the market remained under pressure throughout the week amid persistent geopolitical uncertainty and cautious investor sentiment. Gas production declined 1.7% WoW to 3,005 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) in the second week of July 2026, mainly due to lower output at Uch, Kandhkot and Shewa fields. Shewa output again fell sharply to 9 mmcfd from 59 mmcfd during the last week of June, impacted by disruptions linked to the SNGPL pipeline rupture, while oil production edged down 0.3% WoW to 71,344 barrels per day, AHL said.
S&P Global Ratings upgraded Pakistan's long-term sovereign credit rating to 'B' from 'B-' with a stable outlook, citing ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF)-backed reforms, improved fiscal performance, stronger institutions, and higher foreign exchange reserves supporting economic growth and fiscal consolidation. Banking-sector deposits rose 15.2% year-on-year to Rs40.9 trillion in June 2026 (June 2025: Rs35.5 trillion), while advances increased 13%…
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