The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened on a strong note on Wednesday, with the KSE-100 Index crossing the 170,000 mark for the first time in its history within minutes of the session starting. By 9:40am, the benchmark was trading at 170,171.82 after rising 715.44 points, or 0.42 percent, as early buying lifted overall sentiment.
Momentum continued to build through the morning. Around 10:32am, the index touched a new all-time high of 170,697.74, up 1,241.36 points, while trading volumes moved past 110 million shares. By 12:14pm, it was seen at 170,193.01 after a gain of 736.63 points, with volumes climbing above 223 million shares.
Throughout the session so far, the market has not dipped into the negative zone, with the lowest level recorded at 169,806.32. The day’s range has remained between 169,806.32 and 170,697.74.
Market performance over the longer term continues to show impressive momentum. On a one-year basis, the KSE-100 is up 56.29 percent, while the year-to-date gain stands at 47.83 percent. The index has also traded between a 52-week low of 101,598.91 and a fresh high of 170,697.75, highlighting the significant rally over the past year.
Trading remained lively across several counters. Bank of Punjab, BML, TPL Properties, Hum Network and BNL were among the most active stocks, with BML leading the volumes as it traded near Rs6.19 after rising more than 4 percent.
TPL Properties also saw strong interest around Rs12.46, climbing nearly 10 percent, while Hum Network hovered near Rs14.17 after a mild dip. Some other heavily traded shares included Hascol, K-Electric, Maple Leaf Cement, PTCL and First National Equities, each adding to the day’s active turnover.
Among major gainers, stocks such as TPL Trakker, TPL Corp, Nishat Power, First Credit and SGPL recorded double-digit percentage increases, reflecting fresh buying across various mid-cap counters. Several firms hit their upper limits, including EMCO, JSGCL, PRET and ISL, with ISL trading near Rs119.26 after an over 10 percent jump.
On the losing side, SPL, SUHJ and ASIC were among the top decliners, with SPL trading around Rs80.50 after sliding 10 percent. A few other counters, including JDMT, JSIL and SERT, also recorded notable losses but on relatively thin volumes.
Broader sentiment remained upbeat as investors continued to respond to the International Monetary Fund’s recent board approval, which unlocks nearly $1.2 billion for Pakistan under the Extended Fund Facility and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility.
Analysts said the development has boosted confidence, particularly in index-heavy sectors, including banks, oil and gas exploration, cement, and power. HUBCO, MARI, OGDC, POL, PPL, HBL and UBL all traded in the green during the session.
The positive tone follows Tuesday’s rally, when the market surged 1,153.14 points to close at 169,456.39 as investors built fresh positions across major sectors.
