The KSE-100 index opened on a low note of around 161,000 points, compared to the previous close of 167,191.37.<\/p>\n
The market fluctuated throughout the session, reaching an intraday high of 163,612.11 points at 12:13pm and then an intraday low of 160,158.92 points at 2:56pm.<\/p>\n
It then finally closed at 160,591.33 points, down 6,600.04 points or 3.95pc.<\/p>\n In a post on the social media platform X, Topline Securities said the benchmark index registered a sharp decline in a \u201chighly volatile trading session\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe market witnessed significant fluctuations throughout the day, with the index reaching an intraday high of 163,612 points and slipping to a low of 160,158 points,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe downturn was primarily driven by uncertainty surrounding the lack of progress in the US\u2013Iran talks held in Islamabad, coupled with growing concerns over a potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz,\u201d it said, adding that these developments pushed global oil prices higher, triggering broad-based panic selling across the market.<\/p>\n \u201cSelling pressure was particularly concentrated in index-heavy stocks, with FFC, UBL, ENGROH, LUCK, and MEBL emerging as major laggards, collectively pulling the benchmark down by 2,414 points,\u2019\u201c Topline Securities said.<\/p>\n \u201cTrading activity remained strong, with total traded volume reaching 743 million shares and overall turnover amounting to Rs34.2 billion,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n After Washington and Tehran failed<\/a> to reach an agreement in the marathon peace talks held in Islamabad, US President Donald Trump said the US Navy would begin<\/a> the process of blockading vessels entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n Hormuz, a key shipping lane off the coast of Iran, has been virtually blocked<\/u><\/a> by Tehran since the US and Israel started bombing<\/u><\/a> Iran on February 28, though reopening the strait was ostensibly a condition of the ceasefire<\/u><\/a> put in place on April 8.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said<\/a> that any military vessels attempting to approach the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a ceasefire violation, warning that it would be dealt with harshly and decisively.<\/p>\n The PSX has witnessed huge single-day losses<\/u><\/a> since the US-Israel war on Iran began. It had witnessed the steepest single-day plunge<\/u><\/a>, shedding 16,089 points (or 9.57pc), on March 2 following the assassination<\/u><\/a> of Iran\u2019s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/i.dawn.com\/primary\/2026\/04\/13160303db76ea3.webp\")
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