Pakistan’s benchmark KSE-100 Index tumbled in early trading after talks between the United States and Iran ended without a breakthrough, denting investor confidence and triggering widespread selling across major sectors.
The KSE-100 Index dropped nearly 4,800 points within minutes of the market open on Monday. By 9:34 a.m, the gauge was trading at 162,396.21, down 4,795.16 points, or 2.87%.
Losses were widespread across automobiles, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, oil marketing firms, power producers and refiners.
Index-heavy shares, including Attock Refinery Limited, Hub Power Company, Mari Energies Limited, Oil and Gas Development Company, Pakistan Oilfields Limited, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Pakistan State Oil, Sui Southern Gas Company, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and Wafi Energy Pakistan all traded lower.
The decline followed comments by JD Vance, who said his negotiating team was leaving Pakistan after roughly 21 hours of talks failed to produce a breakthrough with Iran. He cited disagreements over U.S. conditions, including commitments related to nuclear weapons development.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also signaled limited expectations for an immediate deal, pointing to persistent mistrust after the latest round of indirect negotiations facilitated by Pakistan.
The setback reversed optimism that had supported equities last week. The KSE-100 Index had risen 1,673.87 points, or 1.01%, to close at 167,191.38 on expectations that diplomatic progress between Washington and Tehran could ease regional risk premiums and support investor appetite for Pakistani assets.
This is an intra-day market update.
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