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KARACHI: Investor sentiments on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained choppy on Thursday ahead of the long weekend due to the Independence Day holiday, resulting in the benchmark index closing in the red amid late profit-taking.
Topline Securities Ltd said the index largely traded in the positive zone during the session, attributable to a decline in crude oil prices. However, sceptical investors came in to sell in the latter hours of trade before the long weekend, as the index settled at 180,104.61, down 206.60 points or 0.11 per cent.
The top positive contributors to the index were Fauji Fertiliser, Service Industries, Habib Bank, and Pakistan Petroleum, which together added 236 points. However, the top negative contributions came from Engro Holdings, Systems Ltd, Meezan Bank, Habib Metropolitan Bank, and Pakistan Oilfield, which together weighed the index down by 286 points.
Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, said the market recorded a negative session, with early gains erased in the latter half as investors squared off positions ahead of the long weekend, resulting in a marginally negative close.
