Banks Lead as PSX Closes Volatile Session Higher
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended Friday’s session on a positive note as the benchmark KSE-100 index gained 258 points to close at 149,493, though trading remained volatile with mixed investor sentiment.
Volumes dropped to 336 million shares from 426 million in the previous session, reflecting cautious activity. The rally was led by Commercial Banks, Oil & Gas Exploration, and Fertiliser sectors, which together contributed 248 points. Banks added 106 points, followed by Exploration & Production with 73 points and Fertiliser with 69 points.
Read more: Building Businesses: The Story of Nabeel Shaikh aka Nabeil Schaik
Among individual performers, Fauji Fertiliser Company (FFC) gained the most (+90.74 points), followed by National Bank of Pakistan (+59.78 points) and Askari Bank (+53.61 points). On the downside, Searle Company (-102.39 points), Meezan Bank (-65.37 points), and Engro Holdings (-49.58 points) dragged the index lower.
In broader market indicators, the KMI-30 index dipped 0.25% to 211,667, while the KSE-All Share Index edged up 0.08% to 91,988. The rupee remained steady against the dollar, closing at 281.905, down 0.01%.
Read more: PSX Ends Lower as Politics Overshadows Fundamentals
Analysts noted that while the index closed higher, investors stayed cautious amid fluctuating volumes, keeping a close watch on macroeconomic developments and upcoming corporate earnings.
One email a week. No noise.
A single story unwound carefully, plus the few things worth your time. Free, and it stays that way.
