RECORDER REPORT
KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed on a mixed yet steady note Wednesday, as volatile intraday movements kept investors cautious.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at 165,640.34 points, gaining 146.75 points or 0.09 percent over the previous close of 165,493.59. The index touched an intraday high of 166,522.61 and a low of 164,155.32, reflecting persistent swings in sentiment.
The BRIndex100 finished at 17,306.25 points, up 14.44 points or 0.08 percent, on a total volume of 1.40 billion shares. The BRIndex30 closed at 56,200.35 points, down 176.87 points or 0.31 percent, with 1.08 billion shares traded.
Topline Securities observed that a tug of power between bulls and bears defined the session, with the market ultimately ending in the green despite volatility. On the sectoral front, MARI, MEBL, FATIMA, and BOP added 694 points to the index, while ENGROH, HUBC, HBL, PPL, and BAHL dragged it down by 481 points.
Overall market capitalization rose to Rs19.35 trillion from Rs19.263 trillion a day earlier. Ready market turnover increased to 1.63 billion shares against 1.35 billion shares in the previous session, though traded value declined to Rs69.66 billion from Rs76.77 billion.
Market breadth remained negative, with 486 companies active: 173 closed higher, 287 declined, and 26 remained unchanged.
In the most active list, K-Electric Limited led with 299.63 million shares, closing at Rs7.34. It was followed by Bank of Punjab with 191.99 million shares at Rs29.80, and Pak Elektron with 132.35 million shares at Rs59.31.
In major price moves, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited topped gainers, rising Rs445 to close at Rs31,265, followed by Supernet Technologies Limited, which gained Rs135.85 to finish at Rs1,494.33. On the losing side, PIA Holding Company Limited-B fell Rs384.99 to Rs25,600, while Rafhan Maize Products declined Rs273.71 to Rs10,009.96.
Among sectoral indices, the BR Automobile Assembler Index rose 152.22 points to close at 25,077.98, with 3.86 million shares traded. The BR Cement Index slipped 21.86 points to 13,777.14 on a volume of 60.29 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index gained 119.74 points to settle at 48,656.71, with 256.55 million shares traded. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index dropped 284.8 points to 29,504.31 on a turnover of 319.37 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index advanced 71.72 points to 14,724.51, with 91.02 million shares traded, while the BR Technology and Communication Index inched up 8.43 points to 3,790.92, with volumes of 234.06 million shares.
