RECORDER REPORT
KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw a strong and broadly positive trading session on Thursday, with major indices climbing mainly attributed to institutional buying.
The benchmark KSE-100 index surged 2,849.29 points, or 1.72 percent, to end at 168,489.63 points, after touching an intraday high of 168,619.32 and a low of 165,567.22 points.
The BRIndex100 rose 349.07 points, or 2.02 percent, to close at 17,655.32, with a total volume of 1,300.28 million shares. BRIndex30 added 658.32 points, or 1.17 percent, finishing at 56,858.67 on a total volume of 934.43 million shares.
Topline Securities noted that the day’s rally was largely driven by strong institutional buying, particularly in the banking and selected blue-chip stocks, while some profit-taking in heavyweights slightly moderated overall gains. The firm added that the positive momentum and high trading volumes reflect sustained investor confidence.
Overall market capitalization in the regular segment climbed to Rs19.65 trillion from Rs19.35 trillion, while traded value rose to Rs 70.20 billion, even as turnover slightly dipped to 1,573.38 million shares. In the Ready Market, 239 of 489 companies advanced, 227 declined, and 23 remained unchanged.
Bank of Punjab led the turnover with 148.12 million shares, closing at Rs 32.78, followed by WorldCall Telecom at 133.87 million shares, closing at Rs 1.82. K-Electric Ltd. traded 115.99 million shares but ended lower at Rs 7.22.
Among the significant movers, Unilever Pakistan Foods jumped 699.33 points to close at Rs 31,964.33, while Supernet Technologies rose 62.08 points to 1,556.41. On the downside, PIA Holding Company fell 573.97 points to 25,026.03, and Rafhan Maize Products lost 111.26 points to 9,898.70.
On the sectoral front, the BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 25,012.18, down 65.8 points, or 0.26 percent, on a total turnover of 5.26 million shares. The BR Cement Index ended at 13,654.18, losing 122.96 points, or 0.89 percent, with 54.76 million shares traded. The BR Commercial Banks Index rose sharply by 2,728.32 points, or 5.61 percent, to 51,385.03, on a turnover of 312.19 million shares.
The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index slipped 130.35 points, or 0.44 percent, to close at 29,373.96, with 152.17 million shares traded. Meanwhile, the BR Oil and Gas Index climbed 170.15 points, or 1.16 percent, to 14,894.66, on a turnover of 122.14 million shares. The BR Tech & Communication Index declined 15.52 points, or 0.41 percent, to finish at 3,775.40, with a turnover of 211.74 million shares.
