Pakistan’s benchmark KSE-100 index was trading 381.98 points higher by 10:30am on Wednesday, extending the recovery seen a day earlier. The gain of 0.24 per cent from its previous close of 157,132.09 points suggests that investor confidence, while cautious, remains intact following a turbulent start to the week. On Tuesday, the market staged a sharp rebound of 5,159.10 points to close at 157,132.09, recovering a significant portion of Monday’s record 16,000-plus point plunge, the largest single-session decline in the history of the Pakistan Stock Exchange. However, volatility has not subsided. In early trade on Wednesday, the index briefly slipped more than 2,300 points around 9:20am, touching an intraday low of 154,790.73 before regaining ground. So far, the session has swung between a high of 157,962.47 and that early low, underscoring the fragile sentiment prevailing in the market. The turbulence reflects broader global uncertainty. Escalating US-Israel clashes with Iran have pushed oil prices to a 19-month high and weighed on international equities, as investors grapple with the risk of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East. This marks the range of today’s session so far, between 157,962.47 points and 154,790.73, signaling recovery along with flux at the exchange as geopolitical uncertainty continues into the week. While the local bourse appears to be stabilising after Monday’s shock, sustained recovery will likely depend on external developments and the trajectory of global commodity markets in the days ahead. More to follow