The Pakistan Stock Exchange began Wednesday’s session on a firm footing, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index climbing more than 400 points in early trade as buyers returned after the previous day’s decline.
By 9:35am, the KSE-100 index was trading at 170,878.64, up 431.35 points, or 0.25 percent, compared to the last close.
Early gains were supported by buying interest in several heavyweight sectors, including cement, commercial banks, fertiliser, oil and gas exploration, oil marketing companies, power generation and refineries. Key index stocks such as ARL, MARI, POL, SNGPL, HBL, MEBL, NBP and UBL were trading in positive territory during the opening minutes.
The upbeat start followed a weak close on Tuesday, when broad-based selling erased early gains and pushed the KSE-100 Index down by 294.05 points, or 0.17 percent, to end at 170,447.30. Despite better liquidity and active participation, investors had turned cautious by the end of the session.
Midday dip
As trading progressed on Wednesday, sentiment cooled. Around 12:16pm, the benchmark index slipped into negative territory and was seen at 169,838.68, down 608.61 points, with total traded volume standing at 220.46 million shares. The day’s trading range so far has remained wide, with the index moving between 169,230.49 and 171,392.62.
On a longer view, the PSX is still up 47.86 percent over the past year and has gained 47.52 percent on a year-to-date basis. The 52-week range stands between a low of 101,598.91 and a record high of 171,922.60.
Global cues offered limited direction. International share markets moved sideways after mixed US jobs data failed to change expectations around interest rates, leaving investors waiting for clearer signals.
Market performers
Activity in the broader market remained healthy, with several stocks drawing strong interest. Bank of Punjab was among the most active, rising 3.80 percent to 38.52, while TPL Corp slipped 1.28 percent to 11.60. Hascol Petroleum gained sharply, up 9.35 percent at 15.55, and Fauji National Energy added 2.30 percent to 20.91.
TPL Properties climbed 4.54 percent to 13.13, and PIA Holding Company Limited A rose nearly 7 percent to 44.00. National Bank of Pakistan, trading ex-dividend, advanced 3.10 percent to 232.01.
On the gainers’ side, several stocks hit their upper limits. TPL Trakker, FTSM, Quice Food Industries, Security Leasing and Sana Industries posted gains of around 10 percent each. Shares of Shifa International, Allied Bank Modaraba, Mughal Iron, Trust Securities and TSB Leasing also recorded strong advances.
Meanwhile, selling pressure was visible in select names. TRSM, ASL CPS, DHPL and LSE Financial Services fell by 10 percent each. CYAN, Sui Southern Gas Pipelines, GEMPACRA and GEM Blue EX also posted steep losses, while PMRS and First International Investment Bank closed lower amid continued pressure.
Overall, the session reflected a familiar pattern of early optimism followed by caution, as investors weighed local developments against an uncertain global backdrop.
