KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) rebounded on Monday as a strong rally in refinery stocks, triggered by news of a multi-billion refinery modernisation and expansion programme, lifted the market, although selective profit-taking in other heavyweight stocks limited the overall gain.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index gained 397.83 points, or 0.22%, to close at 180,502.45 points against 180,104.61 points in the previous session. The market opened on a positive note and the index reached an intraday high of 181,158.87 points. It later touched a low of 180,281.75 points.
Business Recorder’s indices also recorded gains in the broader market. The BRIndex100 increased by 57.41 points, or 0.29%, to 19,914.01 points, with turnover of 883.55 million shares. The BRIndex30 gained 1,046.90 points, or 1.44%, to close at 73,499.69 points, with 529.31 million shares traded.
The refinery sector remained in focus during the session following reports that domestic refiners are advancing a $4.5–5 billion modernization and expansion programme. Analysts say the programme involves five domestic refineries and covers green fuel, bottom-of-the-barrel and capacity expansion projects.
Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, said the refinery sector remained in the spotlight, with Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL), Attock Refinery Limited (ATRL), National Refinery Limited (NRL) and Cnergyico PK rallying, while PRL and Cnergyico hit their upper limits.
He added that PSO, PPL, ATRL, Cnergyico and OGDC collectively contributed 723 points to the KSE-100 Index, while HBL, FFC, SYS, LUCK and HMB collectively dragged the index down by 403 points amid selective profit-taking.
Trading activity strengthened substantially on the Ready Market, with turnover rising to 1.048 billion shares from 891.33 million shares in the previous session. Traded value increased to Rs48.33 billion from Rs36.69 billion.
Ready Market capitalisation increased by Rs68.26 billion to Rs20.20 trillion from Rs20.13 trillion.
Despite the rise in the benchmark index, market breadth remained negative on the Ready Market. Of 498 active companies, 197 advanced, 276 declined and 25 remained unchanged.
Cnergyico PK led Ready Market turnover with 312.52 million shares. The stock closed at Rs15.01, compared with the previous close of Rs13.68.
D.S. Industries followed with 124.77 million shares, closing at Rs12.20 compared with Rs13.56 previously. K-Electric recorded 30.72 million shares and closed at Rs7.46 against Rs7.35.
Among the major Ready Market price gainers, PIA Holding Company LimitedB rose by Rs516.46 to Rs17,600.00 per share, while Attock Refinery Limited gained Rs88.42 to close at Rs1,125.99. Rafhan Maize Products Company recorded the largest decline, falling Rs91.16 to Rs9,227.01, followed by Hoechst Pakistan, which declined Rs54.55 to Rs3,930.45.
The BR Oil and Gas Index was the strongest sectoral performer, rising 352.64 points, or 2.33%, to 15,510.27 points on turnover of 106.85 million shares.
The BR Automobile Assembler Index declined 33.86 points, or 0.14%, to 24,084.96 points, while the BR Cement Index fell 84.83 points, or 0.66%, to 12,678.79 points.
The BR Commercial Banks Index decreased by 197.03 points, or 0.31%, to 63,784.04 points, while the BR Power Generation and Distribution Index fell 82.51 points, or 0.30%, to 27,307.06 points. The BR Tech. & Comm. Index slipped 3.14 points, or 0.09%, to 3,674.41 points.
Analysts state that the outlook remains constructive, citing refinery-sector optimism, corporate earnings and improving macro fundamentals as supportive factors, while noting that profit-taking could contribute to near-term volatility following recent gains.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026