Full-day report: Stocks close lower on last trading session of the week
The Pakistan Stock Exchange's (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 Index lost 331 points (0.69pc) in yet another session marked by low trading volumes.
100 Index volumes fell sharply once again, clocking at 45.3 million compared to 88.84m a day earlier; relatedly, the value of shares traded was also markedly lower at Rs4.96 billion compared to Rs8.3bn a day earlier.
"Stocks closed bearish amid concerns after global equities sell-off on geopolitical uncertainty," said Arif Habib Corp analyst Ahsan Mehanti.
"Auto, cement and pharma stocks outperformed on surging sales data in Mar 2017. Concerns for the outcome of regulatory actions on Panamagate case and uncertainty over Pak-India relations played a catalyst role in the bearish close," he added.
Overall volumes more than halved to 125.77m from 254.61m a day ago, while the value of shares traded plunged to Rs7.13bn from Rs12.13bn a day earlier.
Volumes were led by:
Sui Southern Gas: 11.7m shares traded (+2.75pc)
Aisha Steel Mill: 7.88m shares traded (-1.02pc)
K-Electric Ltd: 6.11m shares traded (-1.11pc)
TRG Pak Ltd: 6.04m shares traded (1.57pc)
Azgard Nine: 6m shares trade (-3.47pc)