RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange recorded a strongly bullish session on Thursday with gains across all major indices, improved market breadth, and substantial activity in both the ready and futures markets.

The benchmark KSE-100 Index surged by 2,184.78 points to close at 165,373.31, rising from the previous day’s 163,188.53. The index traded within a wide intraday range, hitting a high of 165,611.11 and a low of 163,509.29.

On Thursday, the BRIndex100 closed at 17,542.76, rising 229.23 points or 1.32 percent, with a total volume of 346.33 million shares. The BRIndex30 ended at 55,205.03, up 683.93 points or 1.25 percent, with a total volume of 204.29 million shares.

Topline Securities noted that the local bourse continued its upward trajectory, supported by steady buying from local institutional investors, which helped sustain positive sentiment throughout the session. According to the brokerage, the benchmark index registered an intraday high of around 2,422 points, indicating sustained interest from market participants.

The brokerage added that the banking sector was the standout performer of the day, with MEBL, HBL, UBL and MCB all closing higher on healthy volumes. In the exploration and production sector, OGDC and PPL also attracted strong investor interest and finished firmly in the green. Key heavyweight constituents, including MEBL, LUCK, PPL, OGDC and ENGRO, collectively contributed approximately 942 points to the index’s overall gains.

Market breadth remained strongly tilted in favor of the bulls. In the ready market, 289 companies advanced, 152 declined and 43 remained unchanged out of 484 traded companies.

Market capitalization increased sharply from Rs18.513 trillion to Rs18.744 trillion, reflecting a gain of over Rs231 billion. The ready market recorded a turnover of 498.36 million shares, with a traded value of Rs30.59 billion as compared to the turnover of 636.40 million shares with Rs.30.91 billion shares on Wednesday.

Dost Steels Ltd. led the ready market with 48.39 million shares traded, closing at Rs8.49. WorldCall Telecom followed with 36.70 million shares, closing at Rs 1.86 while Beco Steel Ltd. saw 25.10 million shares traded and closed at Rs 6.58.

Among major price gainers, PIA Holding Company Ltd. (B) posted a substantial rise of Rs1,289.13 to close at Rs24,495.50, marking the largest absolute increase of the day. Pakistan Services Ltd. also performed strongly, adding Rs52.41 to close at Rs1,333.93. On the losing side, Unilever Pakistan Foods saw the steepest decline, falling Rs190.00 to close at Rs29,400.00, while Rafhan Maize Products dropped Rs29.99 to finish at Rs9,370.00.

The BR Automobile Assembler Index finished at 24,231.14, gaining 70.59 points or 0.29 percent, with a total turnover of 1.25 million shares. The BR Cement Index closed at 12,995.19 after rising 242.25 points or 1.90 percent, on a turnover of 24.85 million shares.

The BR Commercial Banks Index registered a strong session, finishing at 49,108.15, up 640.98 points or 1.32 percent, with 42.21 million shares traded. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index climbed to 25,625.46, an increase of 141.39 points or 0.55 percent, with 30.00 million shares in turnover.

The BR Oil and Gas Index also strengthened, closing at 14,110.85 after adding 275.32 points or 1.99 percent, on a turnover of 47.41 million shares. The BR Technology & Communication Index closed at 3,838.97, up 59.47 points or 1.57 percent, with the highest sectoral turnover of 86.98 million shares.

Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, Ali Najib, stated that the market performed largely as expected, with the PSX successfully crossing the 165,000-point mark during the session. He anticipated that the KSE-100 would likely continue its bullish trend in the next trading session, supported by end-of-month window dressing. He added that the index could potentially push north of its ongoing 160,000–170,000 consolidation zone.