KEY POINTS
- KSE-100 Index adds 390 points to settle at 157,945.02
- Market capitalisation rises to Rs18.63 trillion
- Turnover drops to 1.52 billion shares, Rs58.7bn traded value
- Analysts cite rollover week, cautious participation
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed in positive territory on Tuesday with modest gains across the benchmark indices; however, overall activity remained subdued as investors adjusted their positions during the September rollover week.
According to official data released by the exchange, the KSE-100 Index gained 390.36 points, or 0.25%, to finish at 157,945.02, after moving between an intraday high of 158,831.22 and a low of 157,416.54.
The broader All-Share Index climbed 366.38 points to 97,239.99, while the KSE-30 settled at 48,152.16 after a 118.12-point increase. The PSX report showed that market capitalisation rose to Rs18.63 trillion, compared with Rs 18.56 trillion on the previous day.
Turnover, however, declined compared to the preceding session. The regular market saw 1.52 billion shares traded worth a value of Rs 58.72 billion, down from 1.66 billion shares worth Rs 60.90 billion in the previous session, according to the PSX daily market summary. Futures contracts contributed an additional 473.9 million shares valued at Rs 33.7 billion.
Among the most active stocks were K-Electric Ltd., Pace (Pak) Ltd., Cnergyico PK Ltd., Bank of Punjab, WorldCall Telecom, and Arif Habib Corporation, as detailed by the PSX bulletin.
Analysts told Dawn that the session was marked by light buying and profit-taking, typical of rollover periods when investors square off or renew contracts, keeping overall sentiment cautious.
Market observers also pointed to macroeconomic risks. They told Business Recorder that exchange rate pressures, inflation trends, and global commodity price movements would play a decisive role in investor confidence. At the same time, upcoming IMF review signals are expected to influence the market’s direction in the near term.
International market
In global markets, Asian equities traded mixed on Tuesday as investors awaited signals from the U.S. Federal Reserve on the pace of future rate cuts, while Wall Street futures remained steady after overnight gains.
Oil prices edged higher due to supply concerns, and international bullion maintained record levels, adding to investor caution. Analysts told Reuters the sentiment across the regional bourses was shaped by expectations of easier monetary policy and a softer dollar.
Local currency market
In the domestic currency market, the rupee traded in a narrow band against the U.S. dollar, reflecting limited demand pressures. According to interbank data reported by Business Recorder, the local unit hovered around Rs 281.80–282.20 per dollar, while open-market rates were marginally higher.
Dealers noted that inflows from exporters and stable reserves provided support, though import-related payments and upcoming IMF reviews could influence short-term direction.
