KARACHI: Buying interest at lower levels, particularly in oil and gas and refinery stocks, helped the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) recover from intraday profit-taking on Wednesday, allowing the benchmark KSE-100 Index to extend its positive momentum and close 120 points higher.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index increased by 120.30 points, or 0.07 percent, to close at 168,580.41 points against 168,460.11 points in the previous session. During the session, the index moved within a range of 1,206.12 points, touching an intraday high of 169,271.99 points and a low of 168,065.87 points.
The BRIndex100 closed at 18,551.85 points, gaining 25.01 points, or 0.13 percent, from 18,526.84 points, with a total volume of 466.438 million shares.
The BRIndex30 closed at 66,592.17 points, up 273.21 points, or 0.41 percent, from 66,318.96 points, with a total volume of 300.525 million shares.
JS Global’s Nawaz Ali noted that the market opened on a positive note but came under profit-taking pressure, which dragged the index lower during the session. He said buying interest at lower levels, particularly in oil and gas and refinery stocks, provided support and enabled the index to recover into positive territory before settling above Tuesday’s close.
Trading activity in the ready market strengthened considerably in terms of volume and value. Ready-market turnover increased to 586.862 million shares from 432.016 million shares on Tuesday, rising by 154.846 million shares, or 35.84 percent. Traded value also increased to Rs.22.365 billion from Rs.20.139 billion, up by Rs.2.226 billion, or 11.05 percent.
Overall market capitalization increased by Rs.35.316 billion to Rs.18.748 trillion from Rs.18.712 trillion in the previous session. Market breadth remained favorable, with 272 issues advancing, 184 declining and 45 remaining unchanged out of 501 active companies.
K-Electric Ltd. led the ready-market volume board with 82.659 million shares. The stock closed at Rs.6.04 against Rs.5.59 in the previous session.
Cnergyico PK followed with 68.757 million shares. It closed at Rs.12.73 compared to Rs.12.93 previously.
Pak Refinery recorded 44.142 million shares, settling at Rs.94.32 against Rs.94.38.
Among major ready-market gainers, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited posted the largest increase, gaining Rs.440.02 to close at Rs.25,680.00. Hoechst Pakistan Limited followed with an advance of Rs.55.75 to Rs.3,979.04.
On the declining side, Nestle Pakistan Limited recorded the largest fall, losing Rs.30.66 to close at Rs.6,995.19, while S.S.Oil Mills Limited declined Rs.28.92 to Rs.401.66.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index increased 63.23 points, or 0.29 percent, to 22,087.89 points on turnover of 2.246 million shares. The BR Cement Index declined 18.26 points, or 0.16 percent, to 11,557.31 points, with turnover of 28.783 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index gained 41.85 points, or 0.07 percent, to 58,490.45 points on turnover of 11.391 million shares. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index rose 62.69 points, or 0.25 percent, to 25,241.68 points, with turnover of 94.262 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index fell 19.35 points, or 0.13 percent, to 14,939.26 points on turnover of 38.867 million shares, while the BR Tech. & Comm. Index advanced 53.19 points, or 1.65 percent, to 3,273.16 points, with turnover of 64.373 million shares.
Analysts noted that Wednesday’s marginal gain reflected selective dip-buying after the recent volatility rather than a broad-based directional move. Nawaz Ali said the market was likely to remain cautious and range-bound in the near term, with investors awaiting positive news flow that could provide a fresh catalyst for a sustained move.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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