KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its gains on Tuesday, closing higher as early optimism driven by easing geopolitical tensions outweighed late-session volatility triggered by uncertainty in global energy markets.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index gained 793.53 points or 0.48 percent to close at 164,742.47 points, up from the previous session’s 163,948.94 points.
The index moved within a wide intraday band, touching a high of 164,920.35 points and a low of 162,532.99 points, reflecting persistent volatility throughout the session.
BRIndex performance remained positive, with BRIndex100 gaining 90.27 points or 0.50 percent to close at 18,007.71 with a total volume of 332.91 million shares. BRIndex30 rose by 716.97 points or 1.14 percent to settle at 63,548.27 with a turnover of 227.76 million shares.
According to Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, the market opened on a strong footing, supported by improving investor sentiment amid easing geopolitical tensions and optimism surrounding Iran–US relations, which encouraged early buying.
However, he noted that sentiment turned volatile later in the session after reports of missile activity in the Strait of Hormuz briefly rattled global markets, triggering a surge in oil prices and the US Dollar Index. Subsequent denial of the incident helped stabilize sentiment.
He highlighted that UBL, FFC, MCB, OGDC, and HUBC contributed a cumulative 544 points to the index, while MEBL, MLCF, POL, ATRL, and KOHC dragged the index down by 194 points.
Trading activity declined compared to the previous session, with total ready market turnover falling to 453.22 million shares from 696.70 million shares, while traded value dropped to Rs22.79 billion from Rs34.91 billion. Despite lower volumes, market capitalization increased to Rs18.17 trillion from Rs18.12 trillion, reflecting a gain of approximately Rs49.10 billion.
Market breadth remained nearly balanced, with 221 companies advancing, 210 declining, and 53 remaining unchanged out of a total of 484 traded in the ready market.
Among the most actively traded stocks in the ready market, Bank of Punjab led with a turnover of 45.25 million shares, closing at Rs35.06. Sui Southern Gas followed with 30.89 million shares, closing at Rs27.65, while WorldCall Telecom recorded 30.17 million shares, closing at Rs1.29.
On the gaining side, Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited surged by Rs65.30 to close at Rs9,455.33, while The Premier Sugar Mills gained Rs39.46 to settle at Rs545.96. On the losing side, PIA Holding Company LimitedB declined sharply by Rs745.00 to close at Rs16,705.00, while Blessed Textiles Limited fell by Rs97.00 to Rs1,197.00.
Sector-wise, the BR Automobile Assembler Index increased by 48.92 points or 0.19 percent with a turnover of 1.47 million shares. The BR Cement Index gained 49.71 points (0.46 percent) with 18.18 million shares traded.
The BR Commercial Banks Index advanced by 503.01 points or 0.91 percent with a turnover of 61.40 million shares. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index, however, declined by 315.77 points or 1.13 percent with 37.30 million shares traded.
Meanwhile, the BR Oil and Gas Index recorded a strong gain of 251.17 points, i.e. 1.78 percent with a turnover of 69.81 million shares, while the BR Technology & Communication Index rose by 21.93 points or 0.62 percent to 3,553.86 with 56.64 million shares traded.
Overall, the session reflected resilience in the face of global uncertainty, with early optimism sustaining gains despite intermittent volatility, supported by selective buying in index-heavy stocks and improving macro sentiment.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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