KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its bullish momentum on Friday as improving investor sentiment amid encouraging progress in ongoing United States-Iran negotiations, easing international oil prices and positive developments following the Eid holidays triggered broad-based buying across key sectors, pushing the benchmark index sharply higher.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index recorded a strong gain of 2,237.52 points or 1.30 percent to settle at 173,962.82 points, compared to the previous close of 171,725.29 points. The index remained in positive territory throughout the session and touched an intraday high of 174,106.35 points, while the day’s low stood at 171,545.47 points, reflecting sustained buying momentum.
The BRIndex100 closed at 19,269.29 points, gaining 346.54 points or 1.83 percent over the previous close, with total traded volume reaching 423.66 million shares. The BRIndex30 increased 406.51 points or 0.58 percent to close at 69,982.14 points, while turnover stood at 277.30 million shares.
According to Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, the PSX witnessed another strong session as investor confidence improved amid encouraging progress in ongoing US-Iran negotiations and declining international oil prices. He said broad-based buying emerged after the Eid holidays, with expectations of a possible diplomatic breakthrough continuing to support optimism across the market.
Najib further said that on the corporate front, Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) surged by Rs21.75 or four percent after signing a $1.1 billion agreement with China’s Hualu to establish a coal-based fertilizer project under CPEC 2.0, which significantly boosted investor interest in the fertilizer sector.
According to Ali Najib, Friday’s rally was largely driven by heavyweight stocks including FFC, ENGROH, LUCK, EFERT, BAHL, HBL, MARI, TRG, SRVI and MTL, which collectively contributed 1,773 points to the benchmark index gain.
Overall market activity remained robust as total market capitalization increased to Rs19.166 trillion, compared to Rs18.989 trillion recorded in the previous session, reflecting a sizeable increase in investors’ wealth.
In the regular market, turnover improved to 555.06 million shares, compared to 506.35 million shares in the previous session, while traded value rose sharply to Rs40.87 billion against Rs31.14 billion previously.
Market breadth remained firmly tilted in favour of advancing stocks. In the Ready Market, 298 companies advanced, 161 declined and 31 remained unchanged out of 490 active companies.
Activity in the ready market remained concentrated in high-volume counters. TRG Pakistan Limited emerged as the volume leader with 34.19 million shares, closing sharply higher at Rs69.17. It was followed by The Bank of Punjab with 23.89 million shares, closing at Rs34.59, while WorldCall Telecom traded 22.88 million shares to settle at Rs1.29.
On the gainers’ board, PIA Holding Company LimitedB emerged as the top performer in the ready market, soaring by Rs669.12 to close at Rs18,598.00, followed by Khairpur Sugar Mills Limited, which gained Rs220.86 to settle at Rs2,429.42.
On the losing side, Sapphire Textile Mills Limited registered the steepest decline, shedding Rs21.74 to close at Rs1,335.68, while Ismail Industries Limited lost Rs13.15 to settle at Rs1,956.00.
Among sector-specific indices, the BR Automobile Assembler Index settled at 27,580.77 points, posting an increase of 587.53 points or 2.18 percent, with turnover of 4.39 million shares.
The BR Cement Index recorded one of the strongest performances, rising 336.61 points or 2.83 percent to settle at 12,210.65 points, supported by turnover of 70.11 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index gained 212.92 points or 0.37 percent to close at 58,168.38 points, with trading activity totaling 57.56 million shares.
The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index advanced 178.36 points or 0.63 percent to settle at 28,495.10 points, while turnover stood at 27.59 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index edged up 24.90 points or 0.16 percent to close at 15,290.49 points, supported by turnover of 68.07 million shares.
Likewise, the BR Tech and Communication Index increased 28.08 points or 0.73 percent to finish at 3,879.74 points, with turnover reaching 96.49 million shares.
Looking ahead, Ali Najib said developments surrounding US-Iran negotiations would remain a key market trigger in the coming sessions, adding that improving diplomatic momentum and easing oil prices could continue supporting investor sentiment. However, he cautioned that uncertainty regarding a final agreement could keep regional markets volatile in the near term.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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