'Dump and run' at PSX as KSE-100 nosedives over 2,500 points

• Market undergoes year-end correction.
• KSE-100 index closes at 62,360.78 points.
• Market also nervous ahead of elections.

KARACHI: Investors adopted a dump-and-run approach as the benchmark KSE-100 Index plunged over 2,300 points, falling below the record-breaking 65,000 level with a lack of positive triggers doing enough to push stocks deep in the red ahead of the closing of calendar year 2023.

Pakistan Stock Exchange's (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index underwent selling pressure from the word go, dipping to a low of 62,360.78 points. However, it recovered to close at 62,833.03 after losing 2371.64 points or 3.64%, compared to yesterday's close of 65,204.67 points.

Market talk suggested year-end profit-taking and lack of positive positive macros were the major reasons behind investors’ dump-and-run approach at the bourse.

Pakistan-Kuwait Head of Research, Samiullah Tariq, said that the bears dominated trading at the bourse as the market undergoes year-end correction.

Meanwhile, the Head of Equities at Intermarket Securities Raza Jafri, told Geo.tv that the KSE-100 has shed 5% this week so far as the market's showing "nervousness" ahead of the February 8 elections.

"The market had demonstrated a pre-election rally in the last few months but is now exhibiting nervousness as elections approach," said Jafri, adding that the leveraged positions may also be coming in for margin calls.

Overall trading volumes decreased to 1.51 billion shares compared with Monday’s tally of 1.89 billion. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs29.09 billion.

Shares of 386 companies were traded. Of these, 31 stocks closed higher, 351 fell, and 4 remained unchanged.

K-Electric Ltd was the volume leader trading in 341.06 million shares, losing Rs0.53 to close at Rs5.30. It was followed by WorldCall Telecom with 176.02 million shares, shedding Rs0.20 to close at Rs1.70, and Cnergyico PK with 131.7 million shares, losing Rs0.89 to close at Rs5.01.