In a surprising turnaround late in the trading session, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) concluded Friday on a high note, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index recording a significant gain of 449 points. The index closed at 115,469 points, marking a 0.39 percent rise and reflecting renewed investor confidence despite a day marked by subdued activity and geopolitical concerns.
The day began with cautious trading, driven largely by continued tensions along Pakistan’s borders, which initially kept the market in a range-bound zone. However, a noticeable shift occurred in the latter part of the session, as buying activity surged, helping the index recover lost ground and finish strongly. Analysts at Topline Securities pointed out that the late-session recovery was a result of selective buying in key blue-chip stocks, which provided much-needed momentum to lift the index.
According to the day’s trading statistics, a total of 471,072,967 shares were traded on the PSX, a slight decline compared to the 506,702,532 shares exchanged the previous day. However, the total trading value saw an uptick, reaching Rs. 27.310 billion, up from Rs. 24.488 billion a day earlier. This rise in value highlights an increased investor appetite for higher-priced shares despite the cautious trading environment.
A total of 441 companies took part in the day’s trading activity. Out of these, 182 companies recorded gains, while 204 sustained losses, and the stock prices of 55 companies remained unchanged, reflecting a mixed sentiment across various sectors.
Major positive contributions to the KSE-100 Index were led by heavyweight banking and fertilizer stocks. Topline Securities noted that HBL, FFC, MEBL, MCB, and NBP were the key performers, collectively adding around 570 points to the index. These stocks played a pivotal role in the market’s recovery and highlighted investor interest in stable, dividend-paying sectors during uncertain times.
From a traded value perspective, key players that dominated the session included PSO (Rs. 1.83 billion), SNGP (Rs. 1.59 billion), MARI (Rs. 1.40 billion), NBP (Rs. 998 million), and HBL (Rs. 990 million). The strong activity in these stocks underlines continued investor focus on energy and financial sectors, often seen as safer bets in times of market volatility.
Despite the recovery, market analysts are advising investors to remain cautious, citing ongoing geopolitical developments and global economic uncertainty. The uptick, while encouraging, is viewed by some as a technical rebound rather than a sign of sustained bullish sentiment.
Still, the PSX’s performance on Friday highlights the resilience of the local capital market and the strategic role institutional investors continue to play in driving recovery, even during tense political or regional climates. With the KSE-100 Index nearing critical psychological levels, market watchers will closely monitor next week’s trading sessions for further signals of upward or sideways momentum.