PSX falls over 1,800 points amid US-Iran talks uncertainty

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a sharp downturn on Friday as the benchmark KSE-100 index fell by more than 1,800 points during intraday trading.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a sharp downturn on Friday as the benchmark KSE-100 index fell by more than 1,800 points during intraday trading.

The market reversed its earlier gains and ended the session under pressure, breaking a four-day winning streak that had been driven by improved investor sentiment.

At one point, the index had climbed to an intraday high in early trading before slipping steadily throughout the day as selling pressure increased across multiple sectors.

By mid-session, the KSE-100 had dropped by nearly 2,900 points, before recovering some losses later in the day. However, it still closed down by around 1,800 points overall.

Analysts linked the decline to renewed uncertainty surrounding geopolitical developments, particularly the postponement of expected US-Iran talks in Geneva.

The talks were seen as a key step in advancing a peace framework, and their delay dampened market confidence that had previously been boosted by easing tensions and falling global oil prices.

Market experts said investor sentiment shifted quickly after reports emerged that diplomatic engagement had been delayed, prompting cautious and profit-taking behaviour.

According to analysts, the earlier bullish trend was driven by optimism over stabilising international conditions and improved macroeconomic indicators. However, that momentum weakened as geopolitical uncertainty resurfaced.

Financial observers noted that volatility is likely to persist in the short term as investors closely watch developments related to international diplomacy and oil market movements.