ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) started the New Year on a strong note on Thursday, with bullish momentum propelling the benchmark index to a new record high after gaining more than 2,300 points.
The stock market opened on a firm footing and quickly moved higher in early trading, reflecting strong buying interest at the start of the session.
The positive momentum was sustained throughout the day, with the index eventually closing near its intraday high.
At the close, the benchmark index settled at 176,355.49 points, posting a gain of 2,301.17 points, or 1.32 percent.
During the session, trading activity in the market increased significantly, with volumes reaching 1,402.650 million shares and a traded value of Rs48.424 billion, compared with 957.239 million shares worth Rs44.231 billion in the previous session.
Market capitalization also rose, climbing to Rs19.968 trillion from Rs19.690 trillion a day earlier.
Of the 485 companies active in the stock market, 337 advanced, 116 declined, and 32 remained unchanged, reflecting broad-based buying interest.
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K-Electric Limited led the volume chart with 372.705 million shares, followed by Pak International Bulk with 139.941 million shares and the Bank of Punjab with 55.418 million shares.
Among the top gainers, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) surged by Rs1,954.06 to close at Rs21,494.64, while Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited gained Rs57.08 to settle at Rs1,598.76.
On the downside, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited fell by Rs138.95 to close at Rs28,850.05, and Service Industries Limited declined by Rs27.53 to end the session at Rs1,547.47.
On the fiscal front, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) provisionally collected Rs6,154 billion during the first six months of the 2025–26 fiscal year (July–December), falling short of the target of Rs6,490 billion by Rs336 billion.
In the previous session on Wednesday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange closed lower amid profit-taking on the final trading day of the year.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index shed 418.45 points to settle at 174,054.32 points.
