The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) concluded the week with its sixth consecutive loss, as the KSE-100 Index fell by 3,715 points to close at 157,496 on March 6, 2026. The market experienced a cautious sentiment, with investors largely adopting a defensive stance ahead of the weekend.
This cautious approach was primarily influenced by concerns over an escalation in the ongoing US-Iran conflict, which prompted investors to reduce their risk exposure amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty. Additionally, a survey by Arif Habib Limited indicated that the State Bank of Pakistan is expected to maintain the policy rate at 10.5% during the upcoming monetary policy meeting.
On the corporate front, Sazgar Engineering Works Limited reported impressive sales figures for February 2026. Haval (4-wheeler) sales reached 1,682 units, marking a 91% year-on-year increase, while 3-wheeler sales grew by 2% YoY to 2,704 units, reflecting steady demand in the segment.
The index’s decline was significantly impacted by major stocks such as UBL, ENGROH, LUCK, HUBC, FFC, MEBL, SYS, OGDC, EFERT, and PPL, which collectively erased 2,162 points from the benchmark. Market participation remained relatively muted due to reduced trading hours, with a total traded volume of 354.4 million shares and a turnover of PKR 22.8 billion. KEL emerged as the volume leader, with 35.2 million shares traded during the session.
Looking ahead, geopolitical developments over the weekend are likely to influence market direction at the start of the next week. The State Bank of Pakistan’s monetary policy meeting on March 9, 2026, will be closely monitored, with a consensus expectation of a status quo in the policy rate. However, any unexpected changes could further impact market sentiment.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, March 6, 2026
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