The market opened on a strong note, with an early sharp spike reflecting aggressive buying interest shortly after trading began. This initial rally, however, was not sustained, as the index entered a choppy phase amid escalating geopolitical tensions and a rise in trade deficit.

Around midday to early afternoon, the index experienced a noticeable dip, dropping to an intraday low of 162,532.98.

 In the latter half of the session, buying returned with the index climbing steadily and forming higher highs, eventually closing near the day’s peak.

At close, the benchmark index settled at 164,742.47, up by 793.53 points or 0.48%.

“Investors are weighing a massive local trade gap against a global energy standoff that could redefine the fiscal year,” said Behtari Capital on Tuesday.

“If the Strait of Hormuz standoff doesn’t de-escalate soon, the import bill could break the camel’s back.”

Pakistan’s trade deficit crossed $4 billion in April 2026 amid an increase in imports, data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed on Tuesday.