Karachi in Shock: PSX Suffers Worst-Ever Fall After Indian Airstrikes
Karachi/New Delhi: As military tensions escalated between India and Pakistan, financial markets in both countries reacted sharply — but with vastly different magnitudes.
The day’s trading session was marked by extreme volatility, with the index swinging by over 10,000 points — from a brief intraday high of 1,872 points to a massive plunge of 8,410 points.
In contrast, Indian markets showed measured volatility. The BSE Sensex opened 680 points lower at 79,654.73, a decline of 0.85%, while the NSE Nifty slipped 141.5 points (0.58%) to 24,132.30. Though investor caution was evident in early trading, the Indian markets displayed comparative resilience amid the geopolitical flare-up.
The divergence shows the widening economic gulf and investor confidence between the two nations. While Pakistan reels from a financial crisis and an upcoming IMF board review, India’s markets, though shaken, remain broadly stable with robust institutional backing and relatively stronger fundamentals.
The ongoing military developments will likely keep both markets on edge, but Thursday’s data clearly reflects that Pakistan’s financial system is far more vulnerable to shocks than India’s.