KARACHI – Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) wrapped up October 2026 under pressure, with investors witnessing turbulent trading session as the benchmark KSE-100 Index lost 784 points on Friday, October 30, wiping out part of the gains accumulated during four-session recovery.
The benchmark closed at 166,409.25 points, down 784.18 points or 0.47%, compared with its previous closing level of 167,193.43.
PSX Stocks Update
| Company | Symbol | Trading Volume | Closing |
| Pervez Ahmed Consultancy | PASL | 165.86 million shares | Rs3.96 |
| Cnergyico PK | CNERGY | 111.99 million shares | Rs13.64 |
| First National Equities | FNEL | 40.46 million shares | Rs1.13 |
| TPL Properties | TPLP | 33.10 million shares | Rs12.60 |
| TPL Corp | TPL | 32.77 million shares | Rs25.91 |
| Kohinoor Spinning Mills | KOSM | 27.62 million shares | Rs5.51 |
| Pakistan Refinery | PRL | 25.44 million shares | Rs96.96 |
| K-Electric | KEL | 21.47 million shares | Rs5.79 |
Despite the final-session setback, the market managed to finish the week with an impressive gain of approximately 4,034 points, or 2.48%, supported by the recovery witnessed earlier in the week. The index initially fluctuated around the 167,000-point mark before selling pressure strengthened during the second half of trading.
Top Performing Stocks October 2026
| Company | Symbol | Closing Price | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clover Pakistan | CLOV | 6.13 | +14.79% |
| Chenab Limited (Preference) | CLCPS | 3.65 | +13.00% |
| Burshane LPG Pakistan | BPL | 49.23 | +10.01% |
| Unicap Modaraba | UCAPM | 21.00 | +10.01% |
| Olympia Mills | OML | 105.70 | +10.00% |
| Company | Symbol | Daily Gain |
|---|---|---|
| Citi Pharma | CPHL | +4.28% |
| Thatta Cement | THCCL | +2.30% |
| JDW Sugar Mills | JDWS | +2.09% |
| Unilever Pakistan Foods | UPFL | +1.66% |
| Pakistan Oilfields | POL | +1.58% |
Stocks Update
United Bank Limited, Lucky Cement, Habib Bank Limited, Fatima Fertilizer and Attock Refinery emerged among the leading negative contributors, collectively erasing approximately 359 index points during Friday’s session.
KSE-100 2026 Outlook
| Month | Closing Index | Monthly Change |
| January | 184,174.49 | +5.81% |
| February | 168,062.17 | −8.75% |
| March | 148,743.32 | −11.50% |
| April | 162,994.17 | +9.58% |
| May | 173,962.82 | +6.73% |
| June | 180,301.70 | +3.64% |
| July | 176,094.12 | −2.33% |
| August | 176,975.68 | +0.50% |
| September | 169,969.33 | −3.96% |
| October | 166,409.25 | −2.09% |
These stocks were among the major contributors to the October 30 decline, although their presence on the list does not necessarily establish them as the most heavily sold companies throughout October.
Despite a negative market close, trading activity remained strong, with investors actively exchanging shares in several lower-priced, energy and industrial companies. Overall, approximately 825.47 million shares changed hands, with the value of trading reaching Rs23.12 billion.
The broader market also reflected negative sentiment, as 300 companies finished lower, 173 recorded gains and 28 remained unchanged.
The trading figures indicate that participation remained substantial despite the index decline. However, high trading volume does not automatically indicate greater net selling, as every completed transaction involves both a buyer and a seller.
October turned into another difficult month for equity investors, with the benchmark falling from 169,969.33 points at the end of September to 166,409.25 points on October 30. The decline means monthly loss of approximately 2.09%, extending the weakness already witnessed in September, when the index fell 3.96%.
Among the factors influencing market sentiment were international oil price volatility, uncertainty surrounding regional conflicts, selling in major listed companies and concerns about the impact of expensive energy imports on Pakistan’s economy.
The latest downturn comes after an extraordinary year for Pakistan’s stock market, marked by record-breaking rallies, dramatic sell-offs and repeated attempts at recovery.
Higher international petroleum prices have become a significant concern for investors because Pakistan depends heavily on imported energy. A prolonged increase in crude prices could raise transportation and manufacturing costs while creating fresh inflationary pressures. Monetary policy is another important factor. The State Bank of Pakistan’s decision to increase its benchmark policy rate to 12% in October has added to concerns over borrowing costs and the outlook for corporate profitability.
Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding regional security developments, foreign investment flows and global commodity prices continues to influence investor sentiment.
The stock market’s volatile performance also reflects the tendency of investors to lock in profits following strong rallies, particularly when economic or geopolitical risks begin to rise.
November Expectations
As trading moves into November, attention will shift towards corporate earnings, foreign investment activity, crude oil prices, inflation and the next direction of monetary policy.
A sustained recovery could depend on renewed buying interest in heavyweight banking, cement, fertilizer and energy stocks, which play a major role in determining the KSE-100’s overall direction.
