The Pakistan Stock Exchange has ended Thursday’s trading session on a negative note, with the benchmark KSE-100 index losing 590.31 points, or 1.30 per cent, by the close of the trading session to reach 44,823.11.

"Pakistan equities slipped again Thursday as losses in key index stocks dragged the benchmark KSE-100 Index to settle below 45,000," read a note from Elixir Securities. "The day kicked off flat with little activity in the wider market and the market hovering near yesterday's close; however a sharp recovery in the rupee forced investors to abandon inverse-dollar plays," it added.

Volumes were led by technology and communication and engineering stocks as the benchmark index dipped nearly 600 points by the close.

Nearly 72.7 million shares changed hands by the end of the session, with a total worth of nearly Rs6.61 billion.

Stocks of 351 companies were traded on the exchange, of which 71 gained in value, 265 declined and 15 remained unchanged.

Volumes were led by:

1. TRG Pak Ltd: 17.97m shares traded [-4.95pc];

2. Aisha Steel Mill: 7.89m shares traded [+0.86pc];

3. Engro Polymer: 6.49m shares traded [-3.18pc];

4. International Steel Ltd: 6.27m shares traded [-0.03pc]; and,

5. Pak International Bulk: 5.64m shares traded [+0.62pc].