KEY POINTS
- Benchmark KSE-100 Index gains 1,171.42 points (0.72%) to close at 162,803.15
- Market volume soars to nearly 949 million shares, valued at Rs 47.58 billion, highest in recent weeks
- Broad-based recovery led by energy, banking, cement sectors; investors cheer improving sentiment
- Regional markets mixed as Asian indices edge up while Gulf stocks ease ahead of OPEC+ policy meet
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its upward momentum on Monday by strong institutional buying and renewed investor confidence, lifting the benchmark index by 0.72 per cent to above the 162,800 points mark.
The volume was highest in nearly two weeks. The rally came amid optimism over reform continuity and stable economic indicators, despite external and fiscal challenges.
According to the official PSX data, the KSE-100 Index closed at 162,803.15, gaining 1,171.42 points or 0.72% from the previous close of 161,631.73.
The index traded between an intraday low of 161,892.59 and a high of 163,935.02 before settling modestly below the session peak.
The total market volume stood at 949.36 million shares across 436,435 trades, with a total value of Rs 47.58 billion — a significant improvement compared to recent sessions.
Market-wide, positive momentum was also seen across key indices: KSE-30, KMI-30, and ALLSHR all recorded gains, indicating widespread investor participation.
According to analysts quoted by Business Recorder, the buying was driven by expectations of sustained policy stability and the government’s continued engagement with international lenders to strengthen macroeconomic fundamentals.
Sector-wise, oil & gas, banking, and cement led the gains, buoyed by reform optimism and rising energy demand projections.
Analysts at Arif Habib Limited noted that heavyweights such as OGDC, PPL, and MCB Bank contributed significantly to the day’s advance, while selective profit-taking in the technology and textile sectors limited further upside.
In regional trading, Asian stocks closed mixed — Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite edged higher amid stimulus expectations, while Tokyo’s Nikkei softened after last week’s strong run.
Gulf markets were mostly lower as oil prices fluctuated ahead of the upcoming OPEC+ policy meeting, where production levels are expected to be reviewed.
Analysts believe that with the KSE-100 up 79.18% year-on-year and 41.41% year-to-date, valuations remain attractive but call for “measured optimism.”
“Momentum remains intact, but volatility could resurface if global oil prices or domestic inflation move unexpectedly,” said one dealer.
The market is expected to stay data-driven this week, with traders closely monitoring upcoming inflation readings and official guidance on privatisation and external financing flows.
