The benchmark KSE-100 index surged by 2,285.53
points, or 1.68%, to close at 138,665.50
after hitting an intra-day high of 138,943.47
Business Reporter
Karachi: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its record-breaking rally on Thursday, with the KSE-100 index crossing the 138,000 mark for the first time in history, fueled by bullish investor sentiment and strong performance in key sectors.
Index Closes at All-Time High
The benchmark KSE-100 index surged by 2,285.53 points, or 1.68%, to close at 138,665.50, after hitting an intra-day high of 138,943.47. Institutional buying, macroeconomic optimism, and renewed investor confidence drove the momentum.
Auto, Cement, Fertiliser and Energy Sectors Lead the Rally
Gains were broad-based, with significant contributions from the auto, cement, fertiliser, and energy sectors. Among energy stocks, oil & gas exploration, oil marketing, power generation, and refining companies were in focus.
Banking giants like United Bank and National Bank also saw heavy buying interest, further bolstering the rally.
Top Gainers and Sector Performers
According to KTrade Securities, the index’s rally was led by Fauji Fertiliser, United Bank, Engro Fertilisers, Systems Ltd, Engro Holdings, Hub Power, Habib Bank, and Lucky Cement. The overall sentiment stayed positive throughout the day.
Arif Habib Limited (AHL) noted that the index rebounded strongly after testing support earlier this week. The strongest performers were Fauji Fertiliser (+2.92%), United Bank (+2.82%), and Engro Fertilisers (+5%), while Bank AL Habib (-0.86%), Thal Limited (-3.37%), and Habib Metropolitan Bank (-1.15%) weighed on the index.
Corporate Updates and Diplomatic Ties
In a major corporate development, Pakistan Services Ltd (+10%) received an acquisition offer for 28% voting shares from AKD Group Holding.
On the diplomatic front, Pakistan and El Salvador formally established bilateral relations, with an emphasis on cryptocurrency collaboration, AHL reported.
Mutual Fund Holdings Reflect Strong Energy Bets
Among stocks held by mutual funds, OGDC led the pack with 62 funds holding 17.2% of its free float, followed by PPL (15.5%) and PSO (29.7%), reflecting high confidence in the energy sector.
Market Breadth and Trading Volumes
Overall, shares of 486 companies were traded, with 306 advancing, 154 declining, and 26 unchanged.
Volume rose to 780 million shares, up from 706 million the previous day, with a total traded value of Rs40 billion.
As the week nears its end, the KSE-100 index has climbed 3.25% so far, signaling strong market momentum.
