Key Points
- Broad-based buying lifts banking, energy, cement, and auto stocks
- Strong IPO response reinforces depth and liquidity in equities
- Supportive global cues add to investor risk appetite
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s stock market scaled a fresh peak on Friday as sustained buying momentum pushed the benchmark index above the 189,000 level, marking a new psychological milestone and reinforcing improving investor confidence at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).
The rally was driven by broad-based participation across major sectors, with investors adding positions in automobile assemblers, cement manufacturers, commercial banks, fertiliser producers, oil and gas exploration companies, oil marketing firms, power generation, and refinery stocks.
The strength in index-heavy shares provided firm support to the overall market direction.
Key contributors to the advance included Attock Refinery, Hub Power Company, Oil and Gas Development Company, Pakistan Oilfields, Pakistan Petroleum, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines, Fauji Fertiliser, MCB Bank, Meezan Bank, National Bank of Pakistan, and United Bank, all of which traded higher during the session.
Market sentiment remained underpinned by strong primary market activity following an exceptional response to the country’s first initial public offering of 2026. Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited attracted record investor interest, posting one of the highest oversubscription levels seen in recent years, reinforcing confidence in market depth and liquidity.
The fresh peak extended the recovery momentum built in the previous session, when selective buying helped the market regain ground after a sharp correction earlier in the week. Analysts noted that improved risk appetite and sectoral rotation continued to support the upward trajectory.
According to data released by the Pakistan Stock Exchange, the benchmark index closed at 189,166.82, up 1,478.66 points, registering a gain of 0.79% against the previous close of 187,688.16. The market touched an intraday high of 189,566.64 and a low of 186,637.57.
Total traded volume stood at about 878 million shares, compared with around 408 million shares in the previous session. The value of shares traded increased sharply to approximately Rs 58.6 billion, up from about Rs 42.8 billion, with more than 463,000 trades recorded during the session.
Global cues were largely supportive, with Asian equities trading higher after the Bank of Japan maintained its policy stance. A softer US dollar and gains on Wall Street also contributed to a favourable backdrop for emerging market equities, including Pakistan.
