KSE-100 index sheds 347 points; profit-taking grips banks, fertiliser firmsPSXPakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) slipped into negative territory on Friday as cautious investor sentiment and fears of an escalation in the Middle East conflict triggered selling across major sectors. The benchmark KSE-100 index closed at 181,430.02, down 346.57 points, or 0.19%, after hitting the intra-day high of 181,647.27 and the intra-day low of 180,620.08. Although Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to mutual defence, fears that the Middle East conflict could escalate prompted market players to adopt a cautious stance ahead of the weekend. Firmer international oil prices encouraged profit-taking, while selective late-session buying helped the market recover part of its losses. In the ready market, shares of 492 companies were traded.