KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended Wednesday’s session on a marginally positive note as profit-taking after the previous two days’ strong rally restricted gains, although easing concerns over global oil prices and improving geopolitical stability continued to support investor sentiment.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index added 118.04 points, or 0.07 percent, to close at 180,511.02 points compared to the previous close of 180,392.98 points. The market remained highly volatile during the session, with the index touching an intraday high of 181,357.70 points before retreating to an intraday low of 179,564.17 points as investors locked in profits in several heavyweight sectors.
BRIndex100 closed at 20,012.09 points, gaining 40.48 points, or 0.20 percent, with a total turnover of 814.08 million shares. BRIndex30 ended at 73,899.61 points, up by 619.32 points, or 0.85 percent, on a turnover of 495.32 million shares.
According to Topline Securities, despite ending in positive territory, the market witnessed significant intraday volatility as investors engaged in profit-taking following the strong rally recorded over the previous two trading sessions.
Investor sentiment, however, remained supported by easing concerns over global oil prices and improving expectations regarding geopolitical stability, particularly following recent developments surrounding a potential US-Iran agreement and the anticipated reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Topline Securities further noted that index heavyweights FATIMA, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC), Millat Tractors (MTL) and Shifa International Hospitals (SHFA) emerged as the primary drivers of upside momentum, collectively contributing 611 points to the benchmark index’s gain.
Trading activity in the regular market remained robust. Ready market turnover increased to 1.231 billion shares from 1.224 billion shares recorded a day earlier slightly eased to Rs69.22 billion from Rs70.22 billion in the previous session.
Market capitalization continued its upward trajectory, increasing to Rs20.125 trillion from Rs20.053 trillion previously, reflecting a net increase of approximately Rs72.46 billion.
Market breadth, however, turned negative as declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones. In the ready market, 206 companies closed higher, 259 declined and 30 remained unchanged out of 495 active companies.
Trading activity in the ready market was led by Service Long March, which recorded a massive turnover of 189.43 million shares and closed at Rs25.90. Kohinoor Spinning followed with 72.28 million shares, ending at Rs6.48, while K-Electric registered a turnover of 53.63 million shares and closed at Rs8.36.
On the price performance front, Pakistan Engineering Company Limited emerged as the top gainer, advancing Rs64 to close at Rs703.99, followed by Shifa International Hospitals Limited, which gained Rs43.10 to settle at Rs541.06. On the losing side, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) shed Rs583.43 to close at Rs17,454, while Siemens (Pakistan) Engineering declined Rs28 to settle at Rs1,522.19.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index emerged among the top performers, gaining 524.11 points, or 1.85 percent, to close at 28,885.28 points with a turnover of 9.86 million shares. The BR Oil and Gas Index advanced by 174.36 points, or 1.13 percent, to settle at 15,671.72 points on a turnover of 108.39 million shares.
The BR Cement Index added 65.49 points, or 0.51 percent, to close at 13,019.23 points with volumes of 65.45 million shares. On the downside, the BR Commercial Banks Index declined by 526.39 points, or 0.86 percent, to 60,679.23 points despite generating a healthy turnover of 73.51 million shares.
Similarly, the BR Power Generation and Distribution Index fell by 276.82 points, or 0.94 percent, to close at 29,133.45 points, while the BR Tech and Communication Index slipped 17 points, or 0.42 percent, to settle at 4,047.85 points.
Market participants are expected to closely monitor global oil prices, developments surrounding a potential US-Iran agreement, and domestic macroeconomic indicators, while intermittent profit-taking may persist following the market’s recent record-breaking rally.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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