KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday posted a negative performance as rising imports and falling exports chiefly contributed to widening of the country’s current account deficit (CAD) in the first four months of the current fiscal year, snapping the bullish momentum of last week as jittery investors opted to take profits.

According to Topline Securities Ltd, the KSE 100 index ended the trading session on a subdued note, closing at 161,687 points, down 248 points or 0.15 per cent. Throughout the day, the benchmark displayed heightened volatility, oscillating between an intraday high of 163,602 and a low of 161,481, as investors engaged in profit-taking ahead of upcoming economic developments.

Market sentiment remained under pressure, with several heavyweight — Lucky Cement, United Bank, Mari Energies, Hub Power, and Maple Leaf Cement Factory — acting as major drags on the index. Collectively, these stocks wiped out approximately 396 points from the benchmark.

Despite a negative session, the overall market participation strengthen­­ed, with trading volume su­­rging 80.32pc to 1.212 million shares and the tra­ded value rising 19.42pc to Rs 41bn. K-Electric led the volume chart with 296 million shares.

Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, said the market remained volatile and the index ultimately settled in the red.

On the macro front, the country recorded a current account deficit of $112m in October compared to a surplus of $296m in the same month last year. The deterioration stemmed from a 13.4pc year-on-year rise in imports alongside a 3.6pc decline in exports. Consequently, the deficit for 4MFY26 widened sharply to $733m, up from $206m in the same period last year.

The benchmark index is currently consolidating, where 160,000 is expected to act as a firm support. If sustained, the index is likely to target the 165,000 level later this week.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2025