Key Points
- KSE-100 jumps (1.87%) 2,950.48 points to 162,257
- All-Share Index up 1,426.80 points to 99,386.55
- KSE-30 climbs 1,049.69 points to 49,708.01
- Volume robust: 1.45bn shares, value Rs 49.42bn; advancers lead decliners
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) surged to fresh record levels on Friday as a mix of domestic policy moves and high-level diplomatic engagement accelerated broad-based buying across energy, power and banking stocks.
Investors cited both a government push to tackle circular debt and signs of improved international engagement as reasons for the extended rally.
According to the official PSX market summary, the KSE-100 Index rose 2,950.48 points, or 1.87 per cent, to finish at 162,257, posting an intraday range between 159,901.55 and 162,422. The All-Share Index closed at 99,386.55 (up 1,426.80) and the KSE-30 ended at 49,708.01 (up 1,049.69). The exchange recorded a volume of 1,450,030,507 shares with a traded value of Rs. 49,417,482,902 across 419,407 trades; advancers outnumbered decliners (241 v 230).
The session’s breadth was strong, and participation was wide. PSX data showed 228 companies advanced while 230 declined, and 26 remained unchanged out of the total 484 active stocks. Brokers and market reports named heavyweights in power, energy and banking among the day’s leaders — a move analysts linked to the government’s recent energy sector financing move and to positive diplomatic signals. Market commentators also pointed to heavy volumes in select scrips that absorbed much of the session’s buying interest.
A key domestic catalyst was the Rs 1.225 trillion financing facility arranged to address the power sector’s circular debt, which market participants said materially reduced a major overhang for energy-chain issuers.
Geopolitical developments added to the mood. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US President Donald Trump in Washington early Friday and used the visit to press for American investment in energy, mining and other sectors. Investors described the development as a diplomatic thrust, as a positive signal of renewed international engagement.
Market analysts cautioned that while the financing deal and diplomatic outreach have improved near-term sentiment, the durability of the rally hinges on the effective implementation. “The headline financing reduces immediate liquidity stress in power, but sustained gains require structural reform and steadier external flows,” a Karachi-based brokerage strategist told Dawn. Investors will also watch the IMF review, which began the other day and exchange-rate moves for signs that the macro backdrop is holding, he added.
Outlook: The PSX’s bullish run reflects a rare confluence of policy action and diplomatic progress — but markets will likely remain sensitive to reform execution, IMF signals and any sharp currency shifts. Keywords: PSX, KSE-100, circular-debt, diplomacy, turnovers
