(12-31) 05:05 PST KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) —

Pakistani stocks suffered their biggest one-day loss ever Monday, the first day of trading following last week’s assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

The Karachi Stock Exchange’s benchmark 100-share index plunged 694.92 points, or 4.7 percent, to 14,077.16 it’s largest single-day loss in points and percentage. Three days of mourning had halted trading after Bhutto’s assassination Thursday.

Atif Malik, an analyst at J.S. Global Securities, said shares could recover in coming days if opposition parties reach an accord parliamentary elections that had been set for Jan. 8. It is not yet known if the government will postpone the election.

Many international markets fell last week after Bhutto was killed at a campaign rally, adding to global uncertainty about the tense situation in Pakistan. Widespread rioting and looting have plagued major cities since the attack.

With such a long history of political assassinations and political turmoil, analysts do not believe Pakistan’s economy will suffer long-term effects. The country’s economy was expected to grow about 7 percent for the fiscal year ending in mid-2008.

The KSE 100 stock benchmark finished the year 40 percent higher than at the end of 2006.

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