The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) delivered another eventful trading day on Wednesday, with the KSE-100 Index showcasing both strength and volatility. Although the benchmark index managed to surge past the 170,000 mark earlier in the session on renewed investor confidence, it ultimately closed slightly lower by 4.52 points, settling at 169,451.86.
Despite the marginal dip, sentiment in the broader market remained firm as investors reacted positively to the IMF’s latest loan disbursement approval, signalling improved clarity on Pakistan’s economic outlook.
A Day of Wide Swings and High Volumes:
Wednesday’s session was defined by a massive intraday range of 1,458.51 points, highlighting intense buying and profit-taking activity:
• Intraday High: 170,697.74 (+1,241.36)
• Intraday Low: 169,239.23 (-217.15)
The KSE-100 also posted an impressive trading volume of 497.18 million shares, reflecting heavy participation across major sectors.
Market Breadth: Almost Even Split Between Bulls and Bears:
Of the 100 companies within the index:
• 51 closed higher
• 48 declined
• 1 remained unchanged
This balanced market performance signals cautious optimism among investors.
Top Movers of the Day:
Top Gainers
Top Gainers
• ISL (+10.00%)
• MLCF (+10.00%)
• DHPL (+7.31%)
• FFL (+6.64%)
• GHGL (+5.98%)
These stocks helped fuel the early rally as momentum shifted in favor of cyclical sectors.
Top Losers
• SRVI (-8.15%)
• HUMNL (-2.78%)
• PGLC (-2.56%)
• PTC (-2.52%)
• PPL (-1.53%)
Profit-taking and sector-specific pressures weighed these counters down.
Index Point Contribution: Who Pushed the Market Up—and Down?
Major Drags
• FFC (-188.27pts)
• SRVI (-116.63pts)
• PPL (-76.06pts)
• ENGROH (-75.07pts)
• HUBC (-68.59pts)
Softness in heavyweights diluted the index’s early gains.
Major Boosters
• MLCF (+177.89pts)
• LUCK (+169.89pts)
• ISL (+56.16pts)
• FCCL (+52.58pts)
• DHPL (+51.70pts)
The Cement sector remained the star performer, reflecting strong investor demand.
Sector-wise Performance: Cement Leads the Charge
Sectors Dragging the Index
• Fertilizer (-232.53pts)
• Oil & Gas Exploration (-174.60pts)
• Leather & Tanneries (-116.63pts)
• Technology & Communication (-105.16pts)
• Oil & Gas Marketing (-62.44pts)
Sectors Supporting the Index
• Cement (+538.37pts) the day’s strongest contributor
• Textile Composite (+70.33pts)
• Engineering (+66.48pts)
• Glass & Ceramics (+41.49pts)
• Commercial Banks (+28.97pts)
The rally in cement stocks played a crucial role in keeping the market stable despite sector-wide volatility.
Broader Market Snapshot
The All-Share Index closed at 102,554.80, gaining 76.23 points (0.07%).
• Total Volume: 1,190.53 million shares (up from 1,031.80m)
• Traded Value: Rs 50.49 billion (down by Rs 0.82bn)
• Total Companies Traded: 478
o 251 advanced
o 188 declined
o 39 remained unchanged
The broader market remained firmly positive, signaling continued investor confidence.
KSE-100’s Impressive Year: A Strong Bull Run Continues
The KSE-100 Index has logged exceptional gains this year:
• Up 43,825 points (34.88%) during the fiscal year
• Up 54,325 points (47.19%) in the calendar year so far
This places the PSX among the best-performing markets in Asia, driven by easing macroeconomic uncertainty and improving liquidity conditions.
Final Thoughts: Momentum Still Intact Despite a Minor Dip
While the KSE-100 ended slightly negative, the underlying sentiment remains strongly bullish, supported by:
• IMF disbursement confidence
• Improved macro stability
• Heavy interest in cyclical and commodity-linked sectors
• Robust volumes across the board
If global cues remain steady, the market could attempt another breakout above the 170,000 level in the coming sessions.