The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened sharply lower on Monday, March 2, 2026, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index plunging more than 15,000 points, roughly a 9 % drop, marking one of the steepest intraday declines in recent history. The index slid to 152,991.15 points, down from the previous close of 168,062.16 as investors engaged in heavy selling. The fall triggered automatic trading halts under PSX regulations, suspending activity for about 45 minutes to contain volatility before trading resumed later in the morning.
Market participants and brokers attributed the sell-off to panic selling amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East, where escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran rattled risk appetite across global markets. Analysts said leveraged positions and broad liquidation amplified losses on the bourse as sentiment deteriorated sharply at the opening bell.
The plunge at the PSX came as global markets also reflected rising anxiety, with stock futures in Europe and the United States trading lower and oil prices surging sharply on concerns over supply disruptions stemming from the regional conflict. Brent crude prices rose substantially as tensions deepened, adding to pressure on equity markets in Pakistan and beyond.