PSX back in green, KSE-100 up over 1,200 points

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) showed a mix of gains and losses in early trading on the last session of the week, as investors displayed a cautious yet optimistic sentiment. The benchmark KSE-100 index opened in the green, extending a positive start before briefly dipping into negative territory and then rebounding strongly by midday.

At the opening bell, the KSE-100 index gained over 500 points, touching 159,621.36 around 9:19 AM when the volume stood at 4.7 million shares. However, the upward momentum soon faltered, and by 10:10 AM the market slipped into the red, shedding 9.57 points to settle at 159,087.21 with volumes swelling to over 41.6 million shares. The brief pullback appeared to be a short-lived correction as the index quickly regained traction.

By 10:54 AM, the benchmark surged to 160,305.13, adding 1,208.35 points, driven by renewed buying interest in key sectors. Trading volumes also picked up pace, crossing 80 million shares. As of 12:00 PM, the PSX was once again comfortably in positive territory, with the KSE-100 index standing at 160,112.71, up 1,015.93 points or 0.64 percent compared to the previous close of 159,096.78.

The index traded between an intraday high of 160,305.13 and a low of 159,005.13, reflecting a volatile session as investors balanced between profit-taking and fresh positions. Market participation remained healthy, with total volumes around 115 million shares by noon.

Mixed performance across sectors

Banking, cement, and power sectors attracted considerable buying interest, helping the index stay afloat. Among the most actively traded stocks were BankIslami Pakistan (BML), First National Equities Limited (FNEL), Pace (Pakistan) Limited (PACE), Hascol Petroleum, and K-Electric (KEL).

PACE was among the standout performers, rising 8.45 percent to Rs30.79, while BML added 3.82 percent to Rs5.71. On the other hand, FNEL slipped 3.39 percent, while Hascol fell 2.19 percent.

In terms of top gainers, LSEVL and LSECL surged over 12 percent each, while DEL, LSEFSL, and FFLM all climbed by around 10 percent. Other notable advancers included FECTC, SARC, TSBL, SSML, and DLL, which recorded gains ranging between 9.8 and 10 percent.

Conversely, ARPAK led the list of decliners, losing 9.94 percent, followed by FSWL, SZTM, and ESBL, each witnessing notable dips. Weakness in a few mid-tier industrial and services stocks weighed slightly on the overall momentum.

The KSE-100 index has gained nearly 73.06 percent over the past year and 39.07 percent year-to-date, signalling the resilience of the market amid economic headwinds.