KEY POINTS
- KSE-100 Index closes at a record 156,563.52, up 476 points (0.31%)
- Pakistani rupee gains for 23rd consecutive day, closing at Rs281.61/USD
- Strong corporate results, remittances, and $500m Pak-US MoU boost investor confidence
- Trading volume 1,068.52m shares; K-Electric leads volume
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its bull run on Tuesday, with the KSE-100 Index closing at a new high of 156,563.52, up 476.22 points (0.31%). Buying momentum persisted for most of the session, pushing the index to an intra-day high of 157,088.80.
Leading the gains were ENGROH, FFC, MEBL, MARI, and EFERT, which collectively added 886 points to the benchmark, according to Topline Securities.
Volume on the all-share index decreased to 1,068.52 million shares, while the value of traded shares fell to Rs 55.19 billion.
K-Electric Ltd. led trading with 169.61 million shares, followed by B.O. Punjab (83.89 million) and WorldCall Telecom (74.05 million).
On the gainers’ board, Hoechst Pakistan Limited rose Rs 73.65 to Rs 4,094.15, while Bhanero Textile Mills added Rs 44.10 to close at Rs 1,000.00.
Among laggards, PIA Holding Company Limited-B fell Rs 343.50 to Rs 24,656.50, and Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited lost Rs 182.75 to Rs 32,317.25. Of the 478 companies traded, 154 advanced, 291 declined, and 33 remained unchanged.
The bullish momentum coincided with continued strength in the Pakistani rupee, which closed at Rs 281.61 against the US dollar, marking its 23rd consecutive gain.
Positive sentiment was further boosted by strong corporate results, $3.1 billion inflows in August remittances, and a $500 million MoU signed between Pakistan and the US in the critical minerals sector.
Internationally, Asian stocks rose on expectations of a US interest rate cut, with MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan up 0.2%, following Wall Street gains led by a record-high Nasdaq close.
Investors are now closely watching upcoming US inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s policy decision, with a 25-basis-point rate cut widely anticipated.
