ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s benchmark stock index fell 2.3% on Friday as investors sold shares ahead of the weekend amid growing fears that the escalating conflict involving Iran could disrupt global energy supplies and trade routes.

The KSE-100 index closed down 3,714.57 points at 157,496.10, after touching an intraday high of 161,435.83 and a low of 157,072.64, according to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) data. Trading volume stood at about 196 million shares with a value of roughly Rs18.8 billion ($67 million).

The decline capped a volatile week for Pakistani equities, with the benchmark index falling 6.3% week-on-week as geopolitical tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel unsettled investors and triggered risk-off sentiment across regional markets.

“KSE-100 Index declined by -6.3% on a week-on-week basis, and this decline can be attributed to the Middle East conflict (US-Israel vs. Iran), where investors sold their positions in the backdrop of increasing risk to global energy supply and trade routes,” brokerage house Topline Securities said in its weekly review.

Topline said foreign corporate investors were among the largest sellers during the week, offloading equities worth $25.5 million, while mutual funds sold shares worth $54.5 million amid investor redemptions.

Banks, insurance companies and local corporates partly cushioned the sell-off, buying equities worth $36 million, $15.7 million and $14.3 million respectively during the week, according to the review.

Other economic developments during the week included Pakistan’s consumer price inflation for February rising to 6.98% from 5.80% in January and the country’s trade deficit widening to $2.98 billion for the month, up 8% from the previous month and 25% year-on-year.

Average daily trading volumes during the week stood at around 658 million shares, with average daily value reaching about Rs36.2 billion ($130 million), Topline said.