ISLAMABAD: Buying returned to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday with the benchmark KSE-100 Index settling with a gain of over 400 points.
At close, the benchmark index settled at 136,379.96 mark, showing an increase of 440.09 points or 0.32%.
On Wednesday, a total of 705,955,999 shares were traded, compared to 879,118,158 shares on the previous trading day.
The price of shares stood at PKR 32.185 billion against PKR 38.608 billion on the previous working day.
As many as 482 companies transacted their shares in the stock market, 223 of them recorded gains and 221 met losses, while the share price of 38 companies remained unchanged.
The three top trading companies were Pak International Bulk with 90,710,656 shares at PKR 9.69 per share, First Dawood Prop with 40,619,955 shares at PKR 6.11 per share and DH Partners Limited with 37,196,800 shares at PKR 42.06 per share.
PIA Holding Company LimitedB witnessed a maximum increase of PKR 3,164.51 per share price, closing at Rs 34,809.56, whereas Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited was the runner-up with a PKR 121.82 rise in its per share price to PKR 23,918.00.
Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited witnessed a maximum decline of PKR 96.44 per share, closing at PKR 9,453.00, followed by Ismail Industries Limited with PKR 67.57 decrease in its share price to close at PKR 2,013.15.
On Tuesday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) observed a volatile trading session, ultimately succumbing to profit-taking pressure and closing in negative territory after several days of record-breaking gains.
The KSE-100 Index closed at 135,940 points, down by 562.67 points or 0.41% from the previous close of 136,502.54.
Internationally, Asian stock markets came under pressure on Wednesday, while the US dollar climbed to its highest level against the yen since early April.
This followed US inflation data that suggested import tariffs are pushing up prices, dampening hopes for imminent policy easing by the Federal Reserve.
US Treasury yields rose to their highest levels in over a month, boosting the dollar, particularly against the yen.
Despite broader market weakness, technology shares remained resilient, buoyed by a 4% rally in artificial intelligence leader Nvidia overnight.
Data released on Tuesday showed that US consumer prices rose by 0.3% in June, matching forecasts but marking the largest monthly increase since January.
Economists attributed the rise in prices for goods such as coffee and home furnishings to the Trump administration’s intensifying import tariffs.
Japan’s tech- and export-focused Nikkei index remained flat after fluctuating between small gains and losses, supported by Nvidia’s rally and the weakening yen.
