RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened the week on a strong and confident note on Monday as equities posted robust gains across major indices, supported by improved investor sentiment and rising institutional interest.

The benchmark KSE-100 Index surged by 1,217.67 points to close at 168,303.25, up from 167,085.58 in the previous session. Throughout the day, the index traded in a wide band, touching a high of 168,755.19 and a low of 167,386.44, reflecting sustained buying interest from market participants.

BRIndex100 closed at 17,749.85, higher by 120.35 points or 0.68 percent, with total turnover amounting to 629.88 million shares. BRIndex30 ended at 57,651.21, gaining 846.39 points or 1.49 percent, on a turnover of 378.19 million shares.

According to Topline Securities’ sales desk, the KSE-100 ended the day on a firm footing, bolstered by continued buying from local mutual funds as indicated by NCCPL data from the preceding session. Market sentiment was further lifted after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority granted approval for PTCL’s acquisition of Telenor Pakistan, a development viewed positively by investors.

Anticipation ahead of the IMF Executive Board’s upcoming review of Pakistan’s Second Review added another layer of optimism to the market. Heavyweights including FFC, Systems Ltd (SYS), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), PTCL and DG Khan Cement (DGKC) played a major role in driving the rally, collectively contributing around 846 points to the benchmark’s strong advance.

Trading volumes and values increased notably across the market. The ready market recorded 783.07 million shares traded, compared with 686.83 million shares in the previous session, while traded value rose to Rs49.95 billion from Rs41.62 billion on Friday. Total market capitalization expanded to Rs19.147 trillion from Rs19.038 trillion earlier.

Market breadth stayed comfortably in the positive zone, with a larger number of stocks advancing across all major boards. In the ready market, 244 companies closed higher, 197 declined and 41 remained unchanged, while the DFC and CSF markets also displayed similar patterns of healthy participation and positive sentiment.

PTCL led the volume chart with 60.90 million shares traded and closed at Rs49.57 after touching a high of Rs49.64. Bunnys Limited followed with 51.95 million shares to close at Rs14.15, while K-Electric recorded 46.95 million shares and finished at Rs5.55.

Rafhan Maize Products posted one of the largest gains of the session, climbing Rs83.04 to close at Rs9,383.33, while Sapphire Textile Mills rose Rs61.10 to finish at Rs1,396.00. On the downside, PIA Holding Company Ltd-B fell sharply by Rs546.98 to close at Rs23,937.00, and Unilever Pakistan Foods dropped Rs511.63 to settle at Rs28,687.36.

Sector-wise, the BR Automobile Assembler Index closed lower at 24,229.86 after shedding 69.58 points or 0.29 percent, with 2.86 million shares traded. The BR Cement Index, however, strengthened to 13,689.03 with a gain of 78.18 points or 0.57 percent, driven by turnover of 31.59 million shares.

The BR Commercial Banks Index finished at 49,257.46, up 95.63 points or 0.19 percent, with 47.53 million shares traded. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index closed at 26,435.48 after advancing 181.58 points or 0.69 percent, supported by heavy activity amounting to 77.47 million shares.

The BR Oil and Gas Index ended at 14,551.59 following an increase of 45.46 points or 0.31 percent, with 35.17 million shares changing hands. The BR Tech & Communication Index outperformed all major sectoral indices, closing at 4,120.31 after rising sharply by 161.68 points or 4.08 percent on substantial turnover of 161.23 million shares.

Overall, Monday’s session demonstrated renewed investor confidence, broad-based sectoral participation and strong institutional flows, helping set a constructive tone for the trading week as the market awaited key policy developments and the IMF’s forthcoming review.