PSX Halts Trading as KSE-100 Plunges Over 6,200 Points

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) pressed trading pause on Monday because the KSE-100 Index sank 6,200 points that set off universal trading signals. The market dropped 5.29 percent to close at 112504.44 points that day becoming the biggest market decline ever. PSX trading stopped while day traders sold huge portions of their assets because they feared economic signals would cause worldwide problems.

Major blue-chip stocks suffered significant losses:

• Pakistan State Oil (PSO) fell Rs32.26 to close at Rs379
• Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) dropped Rs18.77 to Rs208
• Mari Petroleum plunged from Rs49.69 to Rs625
• Other heavyweights, including Engro, PPL, HUBCO, and UBL, posted double-digit declines

Trading activity remained strong during the panic, as 197 million shares were exchanged for more than Rs.17 billion. Major trading activity took place first on WorldCall Telecom then Cnergyico, Pakistan Elektron, and finally Maple Leaf Cement Factory.

Asian market instability led to the market crash in Pakistan. The Tokyo Nikkei index lost 8% of its value, and both Shanghai and Hong Kong markets experienced sharp drops exceeding 6.7% and 9%, respectively. The South Korean and Taiwanese markets plummeted steeply to trigger circuit breaker protection systems.

Market experts link global selling activity to the increasing trade conflict between the United States and China. Beijing began imposing 34% tariffs on all US products after President Trump raised duties unexpectedly which increases everyone’s worries about more prolonged economic conflict affecting worldwide trade and economic growth. 

This market crash demonstrates how emerging nations like Pakistan must withstand the economic effects created by powerful world nations in conflict.