KMI-30 closes lower despite strong energy stocks as PSX sees volatile session

Trading on the Pakistan Stock Exchange remained volatile on March 4, 2026, as the KMI-30 index closed lower despite strong support from key fertilizer and oil sector companies.

The benchmark KMI-30 index started the day at 220,818.40 points and moved sharply higher, reaching a high of 222,868.53 points during early trading hours. However, selling pressure soon emerged, pushing the index to an intraday low of 217,696.29 points. By the close of trading, the index was down 783.45 points, or 0.35 percent, at 220,015.06 points.

Market analysts described the session as highly volatile, with investors reacting to sector-related developments. The total trading volume among index companies was recorded at 115.60 million shares, reflecting moderate activity.

Among the top performers, Engro Fertilizers (EFERT) stood out in the index with a gain of 464.32 points. Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) followed with a positive contribution of 305.58 points. Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) added 203.34 points, while Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Mari Petroleum (MARI) also helped limit the decline.

On the other hand, heavy selling in Engro Corporation (ENGRO) weighed on the market significantly, pushing the index down 760.52 points. Lucky Cement (LUCK) also came under pressure, pushing the index down 343.07 points. Hub Power Company (HUBC), Meezan Bank (MEBL), and Systems Limited (SYS) contributed further to the downward trend.

Experts believe the mixed performance shows that investors are closely monitoring corporate fundamentals and broader economic indicators. While the fertilizer and exploration sectors showed resilience, weakness in cement and banking stocks overshadowed these gains.

The KMI-30’s year-to-date performance remains positive at 19.00 percent, suggesting that the broader trend is still in favor of growth. However, on a calendar year basis, the index has declined by 11.48 percent, indicating a recent correction and cautious sentiment.

Financial experts advised investors to focus on long-term strategies rather than short-term volatility. They noted that global economic trends, inflation data and commodity prices could affect the upcoming sessions on the Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Overall, the trading session on March 4 showed a tug-of-war between buyers and sellers. While some strong stocks performed well, broad weakness in large companies kept the index in negative territory.