Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained upbeat during early trading on Friday, with investors keeping a close eye on the federal budget announcement later in the day.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index opened in positive territory and maintained its upward momentum through the morning session as buying interest emerged across key sectors.
By around 9:19am, the index had climbed 1,988.63 points to 171,692.23, while trading activity remained moderate with more than 7.17 million shares changing hands.
The market continued to hold onto its gains as the session progressed. At approximately 11:51am, the KSE-100 Index was up 1,908.04 points at 171,611.64, with volumes rising sharply to 111.76 million shares, suggesting increased participation from investors ahead of the budget.
As of 12:00pm, the benchmark index stood at 171,659.29, reflecting a gain of 1,955.69 points, or 1.15 percent, compared with the previous close of 169,703.60. Trading volume had reached 120.21 million shares by midday.
During the session, the market touched an intraday high of 171,692.23 and a low of 170,946.54. Despite the strong start to the day, the index remains down 1.38 percent since the beginning of the year. On a year-on-year basis, however, it has delivered a return of 38.33 percent.
Active stocks
Among the most actively traded stocks were Samba Bank Limited (SPSL), Kohinoor Spinning Mills (KOSM), OBOY, Bank of Punjab (BOP), WorldCall Telecom (WTL), First National Equities Limited (FNEL), Maple Leaf Cement Factory (MLCF), Waves Home Appliances (WAVESAPP), TPL Properties (TPLP) and Pakistan International Bulk Terminal (PIBTL).
On the gainers’ board, AN Textile Mills (ANTM), Pak PVC Limited (PPVC), Elahi Cotton Mills (ELCM), Fazal Spinning Weaving Mills (FSWL), National Silk and Rayon Mills (NSRM) and Tri-Star Mutual Fund Limited (TSML) were among the top performers, with several stocks recording gains close to the upper trading limit.
Meanwhile, losses were seen in selected counters, including Kohat Textile Mills (KOHTM), Indus Dyeing and Manufacturing Company (IDRT), ASLCPS, JS Investments Limited (JSIL), Data Agro Limited (DAAG) and Dadex Eternit Limited (DMC).
Previous close
The positive momentum followed a cautious session on Thursday, when the KSE-100 Index ended 276.16 points higher at 169,703.60. Gains in banking and exploration stocks had helped offset pressure from fertiliser and power sector shares.
Market participants are expected to remain focused on budget-related announcements, with fiscal measures and policy signals likely to influence sentiment during the remainder of the trading session.
