RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended Friday’s session on a range-bound note, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining 266.28 points, or 0.16 percent, as regional security concerns and domestic political developments kept investors cautious ahead of the weekend.

The benchmark KSE-100 Index closed at 170,765.22 points against Thursday’s settlement of 170,498.95 points. The index moved in both directions during the session, touching an intraday high of 171,159.73 points and a low of 169,890.56 points.

The BRIndex100 closed at 18,805.41 points, gaining 21.87 points, or 0.12 percent, from the previous close of 18,783.54 points, with total volume standing at 398.475 million shares. The BRIndex30 closed at 68,118.64 points, up 52.65 points, or 0.08 percent, from 68,065.99 points, with total volume recorded at 233.557 million shares.

According to Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, the market remained mixed and range-bound as investors adopted a cautious stance amid prevailing uncertainties. He said the benchmark traded in both directions during the session before ending on a flattish note ahead of the weekend.

Najib noted that geopolitical uncertainty remained a key factor affecting sentiment.

According to media reports cited in the market commentary, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan were expected to hold an urgent, high-level meeting under their joint defence pact to discuss measures to support the Kingdom amid attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, while Tehran sought to distance itself from the rapid advance of its Houthi allies.

Domestic political developments also contributed to investor caution, with PTI having decided to delay its long march to Islamabad following the deployment of thousands of security personnel, road blockades and restrictions on public gatherings.

On the index contribution front, HBL, UBL, BAFL, BAHL and PSO collectively added 207 points to the KSE-100 Index, while MEBL, FFC, HUBC, PTC and CNERGY collectively dragged the index by 151 points.

Trading activity in the ready market contracted sharply during Friday’s session. Ready-market volume fell to 482.759 million shares from 759.974 million shares on Thursday, a decline of 277.215 million shares, or 36.48 percent.

Total traded value also declined to Rs.19.284 billion from Rs.27.540 billion, falling by Rs.8.256 billion, or 29.98 percent.

Despite the lower trading value, aggregate market capitalization increased by Rs.25.395 billion to Rs.18.996 trillion from Rs.18.971 trillion in the preceding session.

Ready-market breadth remained virtually balanced, with 219 companies advancing, 217 declining and 57 remaining unchanged out of 493 active issues.

Cnergyico PK topped the ready-market turnover chart with 108.192 million shares. The stock closed at Rs.13.18 against Rs.13.47.

WorldCall Telecom followed with 28.943 million shares. It closed at Rs.1.02 compared to Rs.1.00.

Pak Refinery recorded 27.559 million shares. The stock closed at Rs.93.11 against Rs.92.14.

In ready-market price movements, Sapphire Textile Mills Limited recorded the largest price increase, surging Rs.143.12 to close at Rs.1,618.12. Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited followed with a gain of Rs.121.99 to settle at Rs.24,982.00.

On the downside, Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited posted the largest price decline, falling Rs.157.14 to close at Rs.8,842.86, while PIA Holding Company Limited dropped Rs.70.05 to end at Rs.15,459.17.

The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 22,548.68 points, reflecting a gain of 25.52 points, or 0.11 percent, on turnover of 0.933 million shares.

The BR Cement Index increased 45.74 points, or 0.39 percent, to close at 11,877.39 points, with total turnover of 12.739 million shares.

The BR Commercial Banks Index rose 196.76 points, or 0.33 percent, to 58,975.83 points on turnover of 15.103 million shares.

The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index, however, declined 24.06 points, or 0.09 percent, to 25,667.00 points, with volume of 24.671 million shares.

The BR Oil and Gas Index gained 36.38 points, or 0.24 percent, to close at 15,061.31 points on total turnover of 21.804 million shares.

The BR Tech. & Comm. Index slipped 5.88 points, or 0.18 percent, to 3,319.94 points, with turnover reaching 60.528 million shares.

Analysts expect market sentiment to remain volatile in the near term, with selective buying potentially emerging if geopolitical tensions continue to ease and international oil prices trend lower. They also expect elevated energy prices, external-sector risks and the upcoming IMF review to remain important factors influencing market direction.