The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) maintained strong buying interest throughout the session, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining nearly 1,850 points as investors actively bought banking and cement stocks.
The KSE-100 Index traded between 169,400 and 171,037 points during the session. Ready-market volume reached around 575 million shares, while the value of trading in KSE-100 stocks stood at approximately Rs13.2 billion.
The All-Share Index climbed 1,053 points, or 1.03%, to close at 103,297 points. The KSE-30 Index increased by 585 points, or 1.16%, to 50,883 points, while the KMI-30 Index gained 2,523 points, or 1.05%, to settle at 243,139 points.
Banking stocks emerged as the biggest contributors to the KSE-100’s advance, adding 803 points to the index. Cement stocks contributed 266 points, followed by fertiliser companies with 257 points, exploration and production firms with 129 points, and power companies with 80 points.
Among the major gainers, Fauji Fertiliser added 225 points, United Bank contributed 208 points, Meezan Bank gained 142 points, Lucky Cement added 141 points, and Habib Bank contributed 117 points to the index.
Declines remained limited, with Packages, Nestle Pakistan, Ghandhara Industries, Adamjee Insurance and Attock Refinery among the stocks weighing on the index.
Trading activity was concentrated in lower-priced stocks. Media Times led the volume chart with around 69.7 million shares, gaining 13.2%, followed by WorldCall Telecom, Cnergyico, K-Electric and First Capital Securities.
Technology stocks recorded the highest trading volume on the All-Share board, accounting for around 156 million shares. Power, investment banking, refinery and oil marketing companies followed in terms of activity.
The market’s advance was supported by buying across banking, cement, fertiliser, exploration and production, and power sectors. A decline in international oil prices also provided a positive macroeconomic signal for Pakistan, with lower crude prices potentially easing pressure on the external account and supporting investor sentiment.
The near-term direction of the market remains linked to developments in the Middle East and their potential impact on global oil prices and Pakistan’s external-sector position.
The latest gain extended the market’s two-day rebound and pushed the KSE-100 Index back above the 170,000-point level. The index had gained 1,021 points in the previous session to close at 169,043 points.
International crude prices have declined for a third consecutive session as concerns over Saudi oil supplies eased, although regional tensions remain a key factor for global energy markets.
