The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw a volatile start on Monday but managed to recover strongly by mid-session, as buying interest returned after early selling pressure linked to renewed geopolitical tensions.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index slipped at the opening but later turned positive, climbing to 174,194.02 points by 12:09pm. It was up 255.01 points or 0.15 percent compared to the previous close of 173,939.01.
During intraday trade, the index moved between a low of 170,625.96 and a high of 174,523.76. Market activity remained firm, with total traded volume recorded at 266.2 million shares.
Early weakness was driven by concerns over rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly developments around the Strait of Hormuz. However, the pressure eased as institutional investors stepped in, helping stabilise sentiment and push the market back into positive territory.
Market participants noted that trading was largely shaped by a push and pull between global uncertainty and improving domestic fundamentals. Some analysts pointed out that recent geopolitical developments had created short-term noise, but valuations were still supported by broader economic expectations and recent policy-linked investor confidence.
In the broader view, the PSX had already posted a strong performance over the past week. The KSE-100 Index gained 4 percent, adding 6,748 points to close at 173,939, driven by steady buying interest and improving risk appetite among investors.
Activity on Monday remained mixed across individual stocks. Among the most active names, Bank of Punjab (BOP) edged up, while Unity Foods (UNITY) saw strong gains. Pakistan Engineering Limited (PAEL) also traded higher, while K-Electric (KEL) and WorldCall Telecom (WTL) slipped.
Top gainers included FDPL, CSIL, SIBL and PINL, all posting double-digit gains during the session. On the other hand, notable laggards such as ANLNV, FCIBL and PAKL came under pressure, each declining sharply in intraday trade.
From a global perspective, oil prices jumped amid renewed uncertainty in the Middle East, with Brent crude rising around 6 percent to near $96 a barrel. Equity markets in Asia were mixed, while US futures dipped slightly as investors reacted to rising shipping risks in the Gulf region. The US dollar also saw mild gains after recent fluctuations tied to the evolving situation.
Traders remain focused on geopolitical developments, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, which continues to influence sentiment across global markets. Despite the noise, local investors appear to be balancing caution with selective buying, keeping the index afloat in early afternoon trade.
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