KARACHI — The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) staged a steady rebound on Friday as buyers returned to the market, lifting the benchmark KSE-100 Index by 258 points (0.17%) to close at 149,493 points. The upward movement came after a turbulent session earlier in the week, restoring some optimism among investors.
Market analysts said the recovery was fueled by improved investor sentiment following eased political concerns and renewed focus on strong corporate fundamentals. Heavyweight stocks including Fauji Fertilizer, National Bank of Pakistan, Askari Bank, OGDCL, and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) played a key role in driving the index up, collectively contributing nearly 289 points to the day’s gain.
In contrast, some notable names such as Searle, Meezan Bank, Engro Holdings, Lucky Cement, and Engro Fertilizer saw a dip in their share values, which partially capped the upward momentum.
Trading activity remained moderate with over 800.9 million shares changing hands, generating a turnover of Rs40.4 billion. Among the most traded stocks, UNITY led the chart with 64 million shares traded, signaling strong retail participation.
Market observers pointed out that while the session started with a strong positive trend, profit-taking during mid-day trading pulled the index back from intraday highs. Despite this, the market managed to maintain its gains and close in green territory, consolidating near the psychological barrier of 150,000 points.
Analysts believe that optimism was also supported by positive economic signals, including improving foreign exchange reserves, progress in CPEC-related trade dialogues with China, and the government’s efforts to address circular debt in the energy sector. Additionally, the relative stability of the Pakistani rupee further strengthened investor confidence, encouraging fresh buying across key sectors.
According to Ahsan Mehanti, a senior analyst at Arif Habib Corporation, “The market is showing resilience despite short-term volatility. Support is expected around the 148,000 level, while a break above 150,000 could trigger fresh rallies in coming sessions.”
Looking ahead, experts predict that the market will likely maintain its consolidation phase, with selective buying expected in sectors such as banking, energy, and fertilizer. However, traders remain cautious, keeping an eye on political developments and global economic indicators that could sway market trends.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.