The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a positive session on Monday, with the 100-Index closing 158.08 points higher, marking a 0.20 percent increase. The index settled at 79,491.14 points, compared to 79,333.06 points recorded at the end of trading last Friday.
Despite the rise in the index, overall trading volumes were lower compared to the previous session. A total of 536,187,271 shares were exchanged on Monday, a significant drop from Friday’s trading volume of 916,053,875 shares. The total value of traded shares also decreased, amounting to Rs. 8.911 billion, down from Rs. 21.236 billion in the last session. This indicates that although the market saw a price increase, trading activity slowed down considerably.
Throughout the day, 443 companies were active on the exchange, with mixed results. Of these, 139 companies recorded gains, while 253 experienced losses, and 51 companies remained unchanged. This mixed trend reflects the cautious sentiment of investors amid ongoing economic challenges and market uncertainty. Investors appeared selective, and market volatility impacted several high-performing stocks.
The most actively traded stocks included Pace (Pak) Limited, which led the session with a trading volume of 56,890,305 shares, closing at Rs. 6.96 per share. Cnergyico PK followed, trading 48,934,827 shares at Rs. 4.16 per share, while WorldCall Telecom came in third with 40,218,735 shares traded at Rs. 1.39 per share. These companies dominated the trading activity and drew significant attention from investors, despite the overall decline in market volumes.
Among the top gainers, Hoechst Pakistan Limited saw the biggest increase in its share price, with a rise of Rs. 128.60 per share, closing at Rs. 2,079.60. Reliance Cotton Spinning Mills Limited was the second-highest gainer, with its shares climbing by Rs. 53.86, ending the day at Rs. 592.43 per share. These gains demonstrate strong investor confidence in select sectors, particularly in the textile industry, which has recently shown positive momentum.
On the downside, Sapphire Textile Mills Limited recorded the largest drop in its share price, falling by Rs. 58.71 to close at Rs. 1,090.89. Khyber Textile Mills Limited followed, with a decline of Rs. 47.76, bringing its share price down to Rs. 484.85. These losses indicate that not all companies benefited from the positive trend in the market, as investors remained wary of certain stocks due to prevailing market conditions.
Despite the decline in trading volumes and value, the PSX saw a positive movement in the 100-Index, suggesting that investors remain optimistic about future market performance. The rise in key stocks and higher trading interest in companies like Pace (Pak) and Cnergyico PK suggests that certain sectors continue to attract investor attention. However, the significant losses experienced by some high-value stocks like Sapphire Textile and Khyber Textile Mills indicate that volatility remains present in the market.
Looking ahead, market analysts expect trading volumes to recover as investors continue to monitor economic indicators, government policies, and developments in key sectors. The overall sentiment appears cautiously optimistic, with the potential for further gains in the coming sessions, as traders watch for any shifts in macroeconomic trends and investor confidence.