PSX benchmark index falls below 170,000-point level

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw its benchmark KSE-100 index drop below 170,000 points amid selling pressure from jittery investors, according to a report in Dawn.

The index closed at 169,600.41 points, a fall of 825.22 points or 0.48 per cent. Trading saw the index swing between an intraday high and low before late-session selling intensified.

Market sentiment was described as cautious and risk-off, influenced by persistent geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East and rising crude oil prices. A trading head cited by Dawn said the index breached a key psychological level after a seven-session gap.

Concerns centre on how higher oil prices could affect Pakistan's import bill, inflation, and external account.