RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed Wednesday’s session on a cautiously positive note as selective buying in key sectors helped benchmark indices recover earlier losses.

The benchmark KSE-100 Index extended gains for a second consecutive session, rising by 896.25 points, or 0.49 percent, to close at 183,049.81 points, compared with the previous close of 182,153.55 points. During the session, the index touched an intraday high of 183,801.71 points and a low of 182,054.65 points, underscoring choppy trading conditions before settling higher by the close.

The BRIndex100 closed at 20,763.91 points, registering a gain of 145.60 points, or 0.71 percent, compared to the previous session. Total turnover on the index stood at 582.66 million shares. In contrast, the BRIndex30 ended marginally lower at 76,333.53 points, down 13.77 points, or 0.02 percent, with a trading volume of 405.17 million shares.

According to the Topline Market Review, the KSE-100 Index posted gains during a predominantly range-bound trading session, with the benchmark oscillating within a narrow band before closing higher. Topline Securities noted that support from key index heavyweights underpinned the market’s performance despite mixed sectoral trends.

Stocks including Engro Holdings (ENGROH), Lucky Cement (LUCK), Faysal Bank (FABL), MCB Bank, and Bank Alfalah (BAFL) collectively contributed 920 points to the benchmark index, providing the primary support for the day’s advance. However, these gains were partially offset by weakness in Bank Al Habib (BAHL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), and United Bank Limited (UBL), which together trimmed 311 points from the index, keeping overall upside capped and reinforcing the range-bound nature of the session, Topline Securities said.

Market capitalization showed a net increase, rising to Rs20.71 trillion, compared with Rs20.63 trillion in the previous session, adding nearly Rs76.7 billion to investor wealth despite subdued volumes.

Trading activity cooled from the previous day. In the Ready Market, total turnover fell to 734.67 million shares from 1.06 billion shares, while traded value declined to Rs35.39 billion from Rs37.88 billion.

Market breadth reflected a balanced but cautious stance. In the Ready Market, 208 stocks advanced, 223 declined, and 46 remained unchanged out of 477 traded companies.

Trading volumes in the Ready Market were led by K-Electric Limited, which remained the most actively traded stock with a turnover of 120.60 million shares, closing slightly lower at Rs8.60. Cnergyico PK followed with 81.78 million shares, closing at Rs8.16, while First National Equities recorded a turnover of 51.95 million shares, ending unchanged at Rs1.56.

On the price movers’ board, Khyber Textile Mills Limited emerged as the top gainer, surging by Rs147.00 to close at Rs1,620.09, followed by Sitara Chemical Industries Limited, which gained Rs59.29 to settle at Rs939.27. On the downside, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) posted the steepest decline, plunging by Rs740.67 to close at Rs18,226.00, while Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited fell by Rs339.65 to end at Rs9,575.02.

Sector-wise performance under the BR indices remained mixed. The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 28,144.13 points, posting a net decline of 227.92 points, or 0.80 percent, with a turnover of 5.20 million shares. The BR Cement Index emerged among the notable gainers, rising 204.53 points, or 1.55 percent, to close at 13,420.53 points, on volumes of 25.85 million shares.

The BR Commercial Banks Index settled higher at 63,409.83 points, up 362.83 points, or 0.58 percent, with a total turnover of 44.55 million shares, reflecting selective recovery in banking stocks. Meanwhile, the BR Power Generation and Distribution Index closed marginally lower at 29,130.36 points, down 20.24 points, or 0.07 percent, with volumes of 163.86 million shares.

The BR Oil and Gas Index declined by 85.69 points, or 0.55 percent, to close at 15,477.36 points, recording a turnover of 19.75 million shares, amid mixed investor sentiment in exploration and energy stocks. Similarly, the BR Technology and Communication Index ended the session lower at 4,071.97 points, down 12.91 points, or 0.32 percent, with trading volumes of 61.69 million shares.

Overall, Wednesday’s session at the Pakistan Stock Exchange reflected a cautiously optimistic undertone, with modest index gains supported by selective buying, even as declining volumes, mixed breadth, and weakness in oil and gas stocks signaled lingering investor caution.