KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a highly volatile session on Monday, with sharp two-way movements throughout the day before a late-session recovery as improving global sentiment and expectations of easing geopolitical tensions supported investor confidence.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at 151,207.82 points, registering a gain of 809.10 points or 0.54 percent compared with the previous close of 150,398.71 points. The index traded within a wide intraday range, touching a high of 151,875.02 points and a low of 147,771.36 points, reflecting heightened volatility during the session.
The BRIndex100 closed at 16,939.38 points, gaining 218.16 points or 1.30 percent, with total traded volume of 375.80 million shares, while the BRIndex30 settled at 58,414.74 points, up 863.54 points or 1.50 percent, with turnover recorded at 268.38 million shares.
According to Topline Securities, the local bourse endured a highly volatile trading session, initially weighed down by geopolitical concerns but later supported by optimism surrounding a potential ceasefire and the anticipated reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which triggered strong late-session recovery.
The report noted that aggressive value hunting and short covering helped bulls regain control by the close. On the index front, key laggards including United Bank Limited, Bank Alfalah, Attock Refinery, Pakistan Oilfields, and Nestle Pakistan collectively shaved off 716 points, while Engro Holdings, Pakistan Petroleum, Lucky Cement, Hub Power Company, Oil and Gas Development Company, and MCB Bank provided support, adding 666 points to the index.
Overall market activity remained strong, with total traded volume in the ready market recorded at 457.21 million shares compared to 471.94 million shares in the previous session, while traded value increased to Rs30.88 billion from Rs24.64 billion. Market capitalization also rose to Rs16.82 trillion from Rs16.73 trillion, reflecting an increase of approximately Rs97.64 billion during the session.
Market breadth remained positive, with 261 companies closing higher, 153 declining, and 69 remaining unchanged out of a total of 483 traded companies in the ready market.
Among the most actively traded stocks in the ready market, Cnergyico PK led with 57.96 million shares, closing at Rs7.21, followed by WorldCall Telecom with 30.55 million shares, closing at Rs1.21. Pak Refinery recorded 28.35 million shares, closing at Rs34.76, while K-Electric Limited posted 25.44 million shares, settling at Rs7.11.
Among companies reflecting increase in rates, PIA Holding Company Limited (B) posted a significant gain of Rs1,452.19 to close at Rs16,000.00, while Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited increased by Rs78.12 to settle at Rs8,930.25. On the losing side, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited declined by Rs212.44 to close at Rs24,955.62, while Nestle Pakistan Limited fell by Rs76.07 to settle at Rs7,601.39.
Sector-wise, the BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 21,967.11 points, up 130.66 points or 0.60 percent, with volume of 2.42 million shares. The BR Cement Index gained 188.79 points or 1.89 percent to close at 10,157.87 points, with turnover of 40.59 million shares.
The BR Commercial Banks Index, however, declined by 478.77 points or 0.92 percent to 51,513.24 points, with 55.41 million shares traded. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index rose 351.94 points or 1.42 percent to 25,150.50 points, with turnover of 53.98 million shares, while the BR Oil and Gas Index increased by 195.58 points or 1.47 percent to 13,459.06 points, with volume of 31.14 million shares. The BR Tech and Communication Index also closed higher at 3,357.10 points, gaining 48.53 points or 1.47 percent, with turnover of 63.04 million shares.
Overall, the session highlighted continued volatility at the Pakistan Stock Exchange, with geopolitical developments and global oil market trends remaining key drivers of investor sentiment, while late-session buying helped the market close on a positive note despite early pressure.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026