Buying activity returned to the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Tuesday, helping the benchmark index recover sharply after the previous session’s decline.
The KSE-100 Index moved up quickly in the opening minutes, rising by more than 1.5 percent as investors responded to improving local sentiment and some easing concerns on the political front. By 10:19am, the index had climbed to 174,803.33, gaining 2,606.63 points.
The upward trend continued through the session. By 2:09pm, the index was trading at 174,299.70, showing an increase of 2,103 points, or 1.22 percent. During the day, it touched a high of 175,298.11 and a low of 173,405.57, reflecting steady interest from buyers.
Broad-based gains support market
Most major sectors contributed to the rally. Buying was seen in automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, oil marketing firms, power generation and refinery stocks.
Large-cap shares led the advance, with companies such as Attock Refinery, Hub Power, Mari Petroleum, Oil and Gas Development Company, Pakistan Petroleum, Pakistan Oilfields, Habib Bank, MCB Bank, Meezan Bank and National Bank of Pakistan trading in positive territory.
Market activity also remained strong, with total volume reaching 375.7 million shares during the session.
Among the most active stocks, Bank of Punjab gained 1.50 percent, while Cnergyico rose 6.00 percent. Pakistan Refinery Limited stood out with a jump of over 9 percent. Kohinoor Spinning Mills and Unity Foods also posted notable gains.
On the advancing side, Youwafers led with a sharp increase of over 21 percent, followed by Clover Pakistan and Blue-Ex, which also recorded strong gains. Several other stocks, including SG Power and Zahidjee Textile, moved up by around 10 percent.
However, some pressure remained in selected counters. Faysal Bank Islamic, Pak Elektron and KOHINOOR Industries were among the top decliners, each falling close to 10 percent.
Positive trigger from external inflows
Investor confidence received a boost after the State Bank of Pakistan confirmed receipt of $1 billion from the Ministry of Finance of Saudi Arabia. The inflow is expected to support the country’s foreign exchange reserves and improve overall sentiment in financial markets.
The recovery follows a weak start to the week. On Monday, the KSE-100 Index had dropped by 1,742 points to close at 172,197, as investors stayed cautious due to rising geopolitical tensions.
Global markets show mixed signals
Internationally, Asian markets showed a modest recovery. Investors were encouraged by reports that Iran may still take part in peace talks with the United States, which are expected to be held in Islamabad.
Regional indices moved higher, with South Korea’s Kospi gaining over 2 percent to hit a record high. Japan’s Nikkei 225 also rose by around 1.2 percent. Meanwhile, Australian shares edged lower.
In the commodities market, Brent crude slipped slightly to around $95 per barrel.
Market participants are also watching developments in the US, where a Senate hearing is due for Kevin Warsh, nominated by President Donald Trump to head the Federal Reserve. The outcome may shape expectations around interest rates in the coming months.
Overall, the local market showed signs of stability on Tuesday, supported by fresh buying and improved investor confidence, though geopolitical risks remain a key factor to watch.
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