RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a strong rally on Monday as all major indices closed significantly higher, buoyed by renewed investor optimism, improved trading volumes, and robust corporate activity.

The benchmark KSE-100 Index surged by 1,945.50 points, or 1.22 percent, to settle at 161,538.41 after hitting an intraday peak of 161,881.45 and low of 160,406.43.

On Monday, BRIndex100 closed at 17,014.54 which was 259.02 points or 1.55 percent higher than previous close and the total volume was 620.417 million shares. BRIndex30 closed at 54,246.08 which was 865.24 points or 1.62 percent higher than previous close while the total volume remained 390.29 million shares.

According to market insight from Topline Securities, the bulls made an emphatic return at the start of the week, propelling the index to record levels. The brokerage observed that the rally was underpinned by renewed investor confidence following the Economic Coordination Committee’s (ECC) approval of a comprehensive inter-corporate circular debt settlement plan.

Adding further impetus, the ECC sanctioned Rs660 billion in sovereign guarantees against Rs1.225 trillion in commercial loans to address the power sector’s circular debt and allowed the diversion of gas supplies to fertilizer plants, developments that collectively spurred broad-based buying across key sectors.

Topline added that index-heavy stocks such as ENGROH, FFC, EFERT, OGDC, and PPL were among the major gainers, jointly contributing 1,243 points to the benchmark’s rise. Meanwhile, PSEL, UBL, AGP, and MEBL together trimmed 199 points from the index.

Market breadth remained decisively positive. In the ready market, 477 companies were traded, out of which 292 closed higher, 136 declined, and 49 remained unchanged.

Trading activity showed a notable surge compared to the previous session, underscoring renewed participation from retail and institutional investors. The regular market turnover rose to 783.29 million shares from 768.83 million shares, while traded value jumped to Rs 36.37 billion from Rs 30.73 billion.

Total market capitalization swelled by Rs184.31 billion to reach Rs18.47 trillion from Rs18.26 trillion.

The rally was further strengthened by strong performances in banking, cement, energy, and exploration and production sectors. Improved liquidity, upbeat policy decisions, and optimism over circular debt resolution contributed to sustained buying momentum across blue-chip counters.

Among the volume leaders, First National Equities dominated trading with 73.7 million shares, closing at its session high of Rs21.22. Kohinoor Spinning followed with 54.8 million shares, finishing at Rs 7.46. Bank Makramah recorded 49.1 million shares, closing marginally lower at Rs5.60.

On the price extremes, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited recorded the largest gain in the ready market, surging by Rs360.13 to close at Rs 28,999.99, followed by Exide Pakistan Limited, which climbed Rs59.32 to Rs652.51. In contrast, PIA Holding Company Limited-B registered the steepest decline, falling Rs 1,507.77 to Rs 23,380.18, while Pakistan Services Limited lost Rs 89.45 to close at Rs 1,374.30.

BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 25,103.99 with a net positive change of 162.52 points or a percentage change of 0.65 while the total turnover was 2.069 million shares. BR Cement Index closed at 12,466.57 with a net positive change of 160.47 points or a percentage change of 1.3 and a total turnover of 30.23 million shares.

BR Commercial Banks Index finished as 48,817.58 with a net positive change of 44.77 points or a percentage change of 0.09 and a total turnover of 110.79 million shares. BR Power Generation and Distribution Index ended the day at 25,397.76 points with a net positive change of 229.79 points or a percentage change of 0.91 and a total turnover was 32.30 million shares.

BR Oil and Gas Index closed at 13,710.42 with a net positive change of 217.41 points or a percentage change of 1.61 and a total turnover of 37.84 million shares. On the other hand BR Tech. & Comm. Index finished at 3,865.70 with a net positive change of 83.06 points or a percentage change of 2.2 and a total turnover of 81.72 million shares.