KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) staged a strong recovery on Wednesday as easing geopolitical concerns in the Middle East reignited investor appetite for risk assets, triggering broad-based buying in heavyweight sectors and pushing the index close to the 180,000-point milestone.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index maintained a positive trajectory throughout the day, gaining 1,878.35 points or 1.06 percent to close at 179,571.27 points compared to 177,692.92 points in the previous session. The benchmark touched an intraday high of 179,919.27 points and a low of 177,931.32 points, indicating sustained buying interest throughout the session.
BRIndex100 closed at 19,930.11 points, gaining 156.68 points or 0.79 percent compared to the previous close, while total volume reached 656.22 million shares. Similarly, BRIndex30 rose by 1,070.92 points or 1.47 percent to settle at 73,701.14 points, with turnover amounting to 480.49 million shares.
According to Mubashir Anis Naviwala of JS Global Capital Limited, buying momentum returned to the PSX on easing geopolitical concerns, while strong interest was witnessed in banking, E&P, fertilizer and other heavyweight sectors. He noted that improved regional sentiment and optimism over Middle East developments supported market confidence, adding that investors would now look ahead to upcoming economic data releases and corporate announcements for further market direction.
Trading activity remained exceptionally robust across the board. In the regular market, total turnover expanded to 851.30 million shares from 765.14 million shares recorded in the previous session, representing an increase of over 86 million shares. Simultaneously, traded value climbed to Rs40.38 billion compared to Rs35.44 billion previously.
Market breadth remained decisively tilted in favour of advancing shares. In the Ready Market, 289 companies closed higher, 167 declined and 33 remained unchanged out of 489 active companies.
Trading activity in the Ready Market was dominated by K-Electric Limited, which topped the volume chart with 112.89 million shares, closing at Rs8.75. Pakistan International Bulk Terminal followed with a turnover of 73.30 million shares, ending the session at Rs18.64.
WorldCall Telecom remained among the most actively traded counters with 38.76 million shares, closing at Rs1.26, while Pak Elektron exchanged 31.35 million shares to settle at Rs44.49.
On the gainers’ board, Service Industries Limited emerged as the top performer, surging by Rs126.68 to close at Rs2,357.15, followed by Khairpur Sugar Mills Limited, which gained Rs88.31 to settle at Rs2,385.67. On the losing side, Pakistan Engineering Company Limited registered the steepest decline, shedding Rs27.94 to close at Rs917.81, while Colgate-Palmolive Pakistan Limited lost Rs20.53 to finish at Rs1,259.53.
Among sector-specific BR indices, the BR Automobile Assembler Index closed at 24,183.12 points, up by 171.94 points or 0.72 percent, supported by a turnover of 4.77 million shares. The BR Cement Index emerged as one of the strongest performers, rising 295.90 points or 2.31 percent to close at 13,117.20 points, with 54.20 million shares traded.
The BR Commercial Banks Index climbed 781.06 points or 1.32 percent to 59,810.38 points, backed by a turnover of 50.40 million shares. The BR Power Generation and Distribution Index edged up by 49.13 points or 0.17 percent to settle at 29,689.87 points, while turnover surged to 134.46 million shares, the highest among BR sectoral indices.
The BR Oil and Gas Index advanced by 71.11 points or 0.46 percent to close at 15,677.33 points, whereas the BR Tech and Communication Index gained 12.13 points or 0.31 percent to settle at 3,910.39 points.
Analysts expect geopolitical developments to remain the primary external driver of market sentiment, while domestic economic indicators and upcoming corporate announcements are likely to determine the near-term trajectory of the local bourse.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026