Stock exchanges restrict foreign users from accessing websites

Pak market bleeds

• The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) lost 6,500 points on Wednesday. The market saw investors in panic mode in intra-day trade as the benchmark KSE-100 index decreased by 6,560.82 points, or 5.78 per cent, to stand at 107,007.68 from the last close of 113,568.50 when the market opened this morning
• Due to the sharp dip, trading was suspended briefly

Amid India launching missile attacks on Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, leading stock exchanges BSE and NSE took precautionary measures by blocking their websites for international users, sources said.

“BSE, being a critical market infrastructure institution (MII), proactively and continuously monitors risks at domestic and international levels for potential cyber threats,” a BSE spokesperson said, explaining the rationale behind the decision.

“Based on such monitoring of cyber traffic, as a precautionary and protective measure, websites and locations are blocked to protect users and systems. The monitoring is dynamic, and access is restored on a case-by-case basis, subject to an assessment of the threat,” he added.

Meanwhile, an email seeking comment from the National Stock Exchange (NSE) remained unanswered.

Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty closed higher in a volatile session on Wednesday. After swinging between gains and losses during the day, the 30-share BSE Sensex ended 105.71 points higher at 80,746.78.

The 50-issue Nifty of NSE advanced by 34.80 points to settle at 24,414.40.