KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended the week on a positive but subdued note on Friday, as early gains were trimmed by late-session profit-taking and position squaring ahead of the weekend.
Despite strong buying at the opening, investors opted to book profits in select heavyweight stocks during the second half of the session, limiting the benchmark index’s advance.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index gained 546.13 points, or 0.31 percent, to settle at 176,094.12 points, compared with the previous close of 175,547.98 points. The index climbed to an intraday high of 177,108.67 points before retreating to an intraday low of 175,934.99 points as traders pared positions before the weekend.
Business Recorder indices also portrayed an overall positive performance across the market. The BRIndex100 advanced by 56.91 points, or 0.30 percent, to close at 19,346.81 points, with total traded volume improving to 642.81 million shares. Likewise, the BRIndex30 gained 174.88 points, or 0.25 percent, to settle at 69,567.15 points on a turnover of 288.61 million shares.
Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, said the market witnessed another mixed trading session with strong momentum at the opening that gradually faded later in the day.
“PSX witnessed another mixed session today. The market opened on a strong note. However, gains were partially erased during the second half of the session as traders opted to square off positions ahead of the weekend, resulting in a modest positive close,” he said.
Najib added that Engro Holdings (ENGROH), Habib Bank Limited (HBL), Lucky Cement (LUCK), Bank Al Habib Limited (BAHL), and Askari Bank Limited (AKBL) collectively contributed around 250 points to the benchmark index. On the other hand, Engro Fertilisers (EFERT), United Bank Limited (UBL), Habib Metropolitan Bank (HMB), Javedan Corporation (JVDC), and Maple Leaf Cement Factory (MLCF) jointly erased around 101 points due to selective profit-taking.
Trading activity strengthened on the ready counter as overall market participation increased. Total Ready Market volume rose to 880.95 million shares from 711.20 million shares in the previous session. However, traded value slightly declined to Rs24.96 billion compared with Rs25.40 billion a day earlier. Ready Market capitalization increased by Rs38.14 billion to Rs19.756 trillion from Rs19.718 trillion recorded in the previous session.
Market breadth remained positive. Of the 493 companies traded on the Ready Market, 273 advanced, 185 declined and 35 remained unchanged.
Trust Brokerage remained the volume leader for the second consecutive session, with 178.80 million shares changing hands. The stock settled at Rs2.57, compared with its previous close of Rs2.53.
It was followed by Dadabhoy Cement, which traded 81.74 million shares and closed at Rs20.40. Cnergyico PK ranked third with 50.46 million shares, ending at Rs10.74, while Wasl Mobility Modaraba processed 48.68 million shares and hit its upper circuit to close at Rs7.92.
Among individual stocks, The Thal Industries Corporation Limited posted the highest gain in absolute terms, rising Rs104.68 to close at Rs1,151.46 per share, followed by Nestle Pakistan Limited, which added Rs91.49 to settle at Rs7,913.37 per share.
On the losing side, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) shed Rs372.50 to close at Rs17,627.50 per share, while Khyber Textile Mills Limited declined Rs74.65 to end at Rs2,002.81 per share.
Among the Business Recorder sectoral indices, the BR Cement Index emerged as the top performer, climbing 64.82 points, or 0.53 percent, to close at 12,309.14 points, while generating the highest sectoral turnover of 112.06 million shares. The BR Tech & Communication Index rose 11.98 points, or 0.33 percent, to settle at 3,647.94 points on a trading volume of 83.75 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index advanced by 183.32 points, or 0.30 percent, to end at 61,962.16 points, with 34.01 million shares changing hands, reflecting selective buying in banking stocks. The BR Oil and Gas Index also closed in positive territory, gaining 35.42 points, or 0.24 percent, to finish at 14,578.24 points on turnover of 37.33 million shares.
Meanwhile, the BR Automobile Assembler Index edged up 8.25 points, or 0.03 percent, to settle at 23,774.85 points with a modest turnover of 1.70 million shares. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index was the only laggard among the major BR sectoral indices, easing by 7.96 points, or 0.03 percent, to close at 27,523.66 points on a volume of 25.01 million shares.
Market participants said the benchmark index managed to close the week in positive territory despite late-session profit-taking, indicating that underlying sentiment remains constructive. They noted that the ongoing corporate earnings season, improving macroeconomic indicators and expectations of further economic stability continue to support investor confidence.
However, geopolitical developments, corporate financial results and dividend announcements are expected to remain the primary drivers of market direction in the sessions ahead.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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