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PSX turns red as profit-taking drags KSE-100 down 793 points | The Express Tribune
Overall trading volume declined to 1.56 billion shares compared with 1.82 billion day earlier
The Pakistan Stock Exchange witnessed a notable shift in momentum as early gains faded amid aggressive profit-taking during the closing hours, dragging the benchmark KSE-100 index deep into the red by the end of trading.
The session began on a bullish note on Wednesday, buoyed by encouraging corporate earnings and signs of macroeconomic stability. This initial optimism pushed the KSE-100 up by more than 500 points soon after the opening bell, with the index peaking at 168,163.22, its highest level of the day.
However, momentum fizzled as trading progressed. The market entered a sluggish phase, moving sideways for several hours before bearish sentiment took over in the final stretch. A wave of selling — mainly from investors locking in gains — sent the index tumbling to an intra-day low of 166,230.89.
By the close, the KSE-100 had shed 793.56 points, settling at 166,553.28, down 0.47% from the previous day.
Analysts attributed the late-session dip to profit-booking ahead of key economic data releases and possible political developments expected to influence investor sentiment in the coming days. While Wednesday’s sell-off reflected caution, the strong opening suggested underlying investor confidence — a tug-of-war likely to define short-term market trends.
Arif Habib Limited (AHL), in its report, noted that “consolidation into support bodes well for additional gains for the rest of the week.”
Among individual stocks, 38 shares rose while 58 declined. Pakistan Petroleum (+3.21%), Oil and Gas Development Company (+0.87%), and PSX (+5.7%) were the biggest contributors to index gains. In contrast, Fauji Fertiliser (-2.1%), United Bank (-1.11%), and MCB Bank (-1.47%) were the main drags.
In major news, QatarEnergy officials are set to visit Pakistan next week to finalise Islamabad’s request to reduce gas shipments for next year amid weaker demand. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) approved changes to PSX rules, making it mandatory for companies to hold corporate briefings on their annual financial results.
Ghandhara Automobiles (-2.13%) reported 1QFY26 EPS of -Rs29.33, a year-on-year increase of 178%, in line with expectations. Similarly, MCB Bank (-1.47%) posted 9MCY25 EPS of Rs37.42, down 16% YoY, along with a DPS of Rs27, also matching projections.
AHL anticipated support around the 166,000-point level to hold, expecting renewed buying interest to push the index higher in the coming sessions.
Overall trading volume declined to 1.56 billion shares compared with 1.82 billion a day earlier, while the value of traded shares stood at Rs55.06 billion. A total of 476 companies were traded, of which 203 closed higher, 232 fell, and 41 remained unchanged. K-Electric led volumes with 241 million shares, down Rs0.30 to close at Rs6.21.
Car-sharing firm Zipcar has confirmed it is stopping operations in the UK after launching a consultation late last year.
The move will hit the company’s roughly 650,000 drivers across the country.
On December 1, the US-based company told customers in the UK that it planned to suspend new bookings temporarily at the turn of the year.
The business, which had 71 UK employees at the end of 2024, launched a formal consultation with staff as a result.
On Friday, in a fresh email to customers, the business said it “can now confirm that Zipcar will cease operating in the UK”.
The company added: “In accordance with clause 7.5 of the member terms, please take this as your written notice that we will formally close your account in 30 days’ time.
“It’s not possible to make any new bookings with Zipcar UK at this time, but your account will remain open until February 16.”
It added that customers will be entitled to a pro-rated refund for any remaining periods on current plans or subscriptions, from the start of 2026.
Zipcar said this will be done automatically and will not require any action from users.
Accounts showed that the van and car hire firm saw losses deepen to £5.7 million in 2024 after a decrease in customer trips.
New Delhi: Good news for investors and market watchers! Even though February 1 falls on a Sunday this year, the Indian stock markets will remain open for trading on Budget Day. Both the BSE and NSE announced on January 16 that trading will take place as per normal market hours on February 1 for Budget 2026. This special arrangement ensures that investors can react to Budget announcements in real time, without waiting for the next trading session.
The NSE clarified the special trading arrangement in a circular, stating, “On account of the presentation of the Union Budget, members are requested to note that Exchange shall be conducting live trading session on February 01, 2026, as per the standard market timings (9:15 am-3:30 pm),” said NSE in a circular.
Union Budget 2026 to be presented on February 1 at 11 am
The Union Budget for 2026 will be presented at 11 am on Sunday, February 1, the Lok Sabha Speaker confirmed on January 12. In recent years, February 1 has become the fixed date for the annual Budget presentation, a trend that continued with the 2025 Budget as well. The upcoming Budget will also be a significant milestone for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, as it will be her ninth consecutive Union Budget, placing her among finance ministers with the longest uninterrupted Budget tenures.
Trading details for Budget Day explained
While most core market segments will remain open during regular trading hours on Budget Day, some services will stay shut. The BSE has clarified that the T+0 settlement session and the auction session meant for settlement defaults will not be operational. At the same time, the NSE confirmed that trading in capital markets and derivatives will continue as usual.
Stock market holiday list remains the same
The stock market holiday calendar for 2026 remains unchanged, with Indian exchanges observing 16 public holidays apart from weekends. The next scheduled market closure this month will be on January 26. In the first half of the year, markets will remain shut on key occasions such as Holi (March 3), Ram Navami (March 26), Mahavir Jayanti (March 31) and Good Friday (April 3). Trading will also be suspended on Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14), Maharashtra Day (May 1) and Bakri Id (May 28).
In the second half of the year, markets will close on Muharram (June 26), Ganesh Chaturthi (September 14), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), Dussehra (October 20), Diwali Balipratipada (November 10) and Guru Nanak Jayanti (November 24). Christmas, on December 25, will be the final market holiday of 2026.
Last Updated:
While bulk deals may reflect emerging interest in a stock, block deals are usually pre-planned and involve large institutional investors
Market experts say tracking bulk and block deals can offer useful insights into the actions of large investors and institutions. (Representational Photo)
Investors tracking stock market movements often come across terms such as ‘bulk deal’ and ‘block deal’ in daily trading updates. At times, a sharp rise or fall in a stock price can be traced back to these large transactions. Understanding what these deals mean, how they differ, and why they matter can help investors make better sense of market activity.
Bulk Deal
A bulk deal occurs when an investor or institution buys or sells 0.5% or more of a company’s total equity shares in a single trading day. Such transactions take place during normal market hours and are disclosed by the stock exchanges after the market closes.
Bulk deals can have an immediate impact on a stock’s price, as heavy buying or selling often signals strong interest or exit by a large investor. Retail investors sometimes view bulk purchases by institutional players as a vote of confidence in the company.
Block Deal
A block deal is executed through a special trading window provided by the stock exchanges. To qualify as a block deal, the transaction must involve at least 5 lakh shares or be valued at more than Rs 5 crore. These deals are carried out during a specific time slot known as the block deal window, and both the buyer and seller are identified beforehand.
The main objective is to facilitate large transactions without causing excessive volatility in the open market. Unlike bulk deals, block deals are reported to the exchanges immediately.
Differences Between Bulk and Block Deals
Bulk deals are executed during regular trading hours and typically involve relatively smaller quantities compared to block deals. They are disclosed at the end of the trading session. Block deals, on the other hand, are meant for very large transactions, take place in a designated time window, and are reported in real time.
While bulk deals may reflect emerging interest in a stock, block deals are usually pre-planned and involve large institutional investors.
Types of Deals in the Stock Market
There are broadly four types of transactions in the equity market. Regular trading deals involve routine buying and selling by investors on the exchange. Bulk deals refer to large trades crossing the 0.5% threshold of a company’s equity in a day. Block deals are high-value or high-volume transactions conducted through a special window.
Off-market deals involve the transfer of shares outside the exchange platform, such as inter-promoter transfers or strategic stake sales.
What Should Investors Keep in Mind?
Market experts say tracking bulk and block deals can offer useful insights into the actions of large investors and institutions. However, they caution against making investment decisions based solely on these transactions. Investors are advised to also consider a company’s fundamentals, financial performance, management quality and long-term growth prospects.
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January 16, 2026, 20:26 IST
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