The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) recorded another milestone on Thursday as its benchmark KSE-100 index climbed over 340 points to reach a new all-time high. The market’s upward momentum, however, was accompanied by noticeable intraday swings, reflecting both investor optimism and cautious profit-taking.
At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index stood at 130,686 points, registering a gain of 342 points or 0.26 percent compared to the previous day’s closing at 130,344.03. This advance extended the positive trajectory the bourse has maintained over recent sessions, underscoring resilient investor sentiment despite periodic volatility.
During the day, a total of 899.8 million shares changed hands, down from the over 1 billion shares traded in the previous session. The total value of traded shares also declined to Rs43.25 billion from Rs49.29 billion a day earlier, indicating that while the market pushed to new highs, trading activity slightly tapered off.
A breakdown of market participation showed that 468 listed companies engaged in trading. Out of these, 216 saw their share prices rise, 236 closed lower, and 16 remained unchanged, suggesting a broadly mixed trading environment despite the overall index gain.
Market review from Topline Securities highlighted that the session was marked by considerable intraday volatility. The index hit an intraday high of 131,325 points before retreating to a low of 129,776 as traders seized the opportunity to book profits following recent sharp rallies.
Notably, the index faced downward pressure due to significant negative contributions from key banking and industrial stocks. Shares in BAHL, MCB, MEBL, HBL, and MTL collectively shaved off around 493 points from the index, temporarily dampening the broader market momentum.
On the other side, heavyweight energy and banking names helped balance out the decline. Strong performances by OGDC, UBL, and HUBC collectively added back about 353 points, supporting the index’s push to a fresh peak by the close of the session.
Analysts continue to attribute the sustained positive sentiment at the PSX to expectations of economic stabilization measures, investor anticipation of upcoming corporate results, and a general risk-on mood driven by hopes of an improved macro outlook. At the same time, they caution that the current rally may encounter intermittent corrections as investors lock in gains following the market’s recent robust performance.
Looking ahead, market watchers will be closely monitoring macroeconomic indicators, especially developments tied to fiscal reforms and external funding flows, which remain crucial for maintaining investor confidence. Any fresh movement in global commodity prices or local policy shifts could also steer the market direction in the sessions to come.
Overall, Thursday’s session reinforced the PSX’s position at record levels, suggesting that despite volatility, investors are willing to bet on the resilience of Pakistan’s equity market, at least for now. How long this momentum can sustain amid evolving domestic and global economic cues will be the key focus in the days ahead.