KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) staged a strong recovery on Thursday with broad-based buying lifting key benchmark indices sharply higher, supported by improved investor sentiment and active participation in both ready and futures markets.
The KSE-100 Index closed at 168,893.09 points, gaining 4,266.79 points or 2.59 percent compared with the previous close of 164,626.29 points. During the session, the benchmark index moved within a wide range, touching an intraday high of 169,374.27 points and a low of 162,953.64 points, indicating strong buying interest after early volatility.
On Thursday, the BRIndex100 closed at 18,998.00 points, up 752.84 points or 4.13 percent from the previous close. Total traded volume on the BRIndex100 stood at 557.43 million shares. The BRIndex30 closed at 67,823.86 points, gaining 2,911.77 points or 4.49 percent. Total volume on the BRIndex30 stood at 339.53 million shares.
According to Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, the PSX witnessed a strong recovery session, offering investors a sigh of relief as the index posted a substantial gain. He noted that the trading session began on a negative note, with persistent selling pressure pushing the index to an intraday low. However, the decline attracted aggressive value buying, which triggered a sharp rebound and broad-based recovery across key sectors.
He said significant buying interest was observed in automobile assemblers, commercial banks, fertilizer, oil and gas exploration companies, oil marketing companies, power generation, and refinery sectors. Major contributors to the index rally included FFC, ENGROH, HUBC, PPL, HBL, PSO, LUCK, FATIMA, OGDC, and BOP, which collectively added 2,494 points to the benchmark index.
Trading activity in the ready market improved notably. Total turnover increased to 692.40 million shares compared with 619.63 million shares in the previous session. The traded value rose to Rs35.80 billion from Rs29.25 billion, reflecting increased investor participation.
Overall market capitalization in the ready market rose to Rs19.02 trillion, compared with Rs18.67 trillion previously, translating into an increase of approximately Rs350.76 billion in market value.
Market breadth turned strongly positive. Out of 488 companies traded in the ready market, 291 companies recorded gains, 145 declined, and 52 remained unchanged, indicating widespread buying across the board.
Among actively traded stocks in the ready market, Unity Foods Limited led the volume chart with a turnover of 71.44 million shares. The stock closed at Rs11.85, down from Rs13.17. Bank of Punjab ranked second with 38.66 million shares, closing at Rs31.81. K-Electric Limited recorded a turnover of 35.07 million shares and closed at Rs7.82.
Among top gainers, PIA Holding Company Limited-B recorded the largest increase of Rs356.60 to close at Rs16,497.60, followed by Sazgar Engineering Works Limited, which rose by Rs128.53 to settle at Rs2,218.20.
On the losing side, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited declined by Rs375.95 to close at Rs25,576.77, while Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited fell by Rs113.48 to settle at Rs1,386.56.
Sector-wise performance remained strongly positive. The BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 26,085.91 points, rising 530.15 points or 2.07 percent, with a total turnover of 8.91 million shares. The BR Cement Index closed at 11,947.66 points, gaining 378.18 points or 3.27 percent, with total turnover of 36.24 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index settled at 58,942.10 points, up 1,138.24 points or 1.97 percent, with total turnover of 65.84 million shares. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index closed at 27,445.20 points, posting a strong increase of 1,263.06 points or 4.82 percent, with turnover of 72.29 million shares.
The BR Oil and Gas Index settled at 14,003.81 points, up 404.21 points or 2.97 percent, with turnover of 52.55 million shares. The BR Technology and Communication Index closed at 3,563.15 points, gaining 120.21 points or 3.49 percent, with turnover of 79.04 million shares.
Overall, the trading session reflected strong recovery momentum with gains across benchmark and sectoral indices, improved market breadth, higher turnover, and a significant increase in market capitalization. The widespread gains in both ready and futures segments indicated renewed investor confidence and accumulation activity following the previous session’s losses.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026