The KSE-100 Index closed Monday’s session at 94,995.67, gaining 232.03 points (0.24%), reflecting cautious optimism in Pakistan’s equity market. The index traded within a range of 687.47 points, touching an intraday high of 95,307.91(+544.27 points) and a low of 94,620.44 (-143.20 points).
Total volumes on the benchmark index reached 277.31 million shares, with a broader market volume of 765.21 million shares, down from 893.17 million shares in the previous session. The traded value amounted to Rs23.92 billion, a decrease of Rs6.89 billion.
Market Performance and Drivers
The market’s bullish momentum is fueled by improving macroeconomic indicators and declining bond yields, which are redirecting liquidity into equities. Analysts anticipate a 26% rally in the index by the end of 2025, backed by favorable economic trends and improved corporate earnings.
The KSE-100 has seen a substantial rise of 16,551 points (21.10%) during the fiscal year and 32,545 points (52.11%) so far this calendar year, highlighting strong investor confidence.
Sector and Stock Contributions
Key contributors to the day’s gains included:
- Fertilizer (+96.80 points)
- Oil & Gas Exploration Companies (+79.54 points)
- Miscellaneous (+47.42 points)
- Cement (+45.39 points)
- Oil & Gas Marketing Companies (+42.86 points)
Conversely, the index faced pressure from:
- Commercial Banks (-61.50 points)
- Power Generation & Distribution (-51.31 points)
- Technology & Communication (-16.58 points)
The top-performing stocks by percentage gain were EFUG (+9.09%), PSX (+9.07%), and PSEL (+7.98%), while laggards included PKGP (-3.98%) and UNITY (-3.23%).
Broader Market Snapshot
The All-Share Index gained 132.31 points (0.22%), closing at 60,711.07. Of 456 companies traded, 192 closed up, 219 down, and 45 remained unchanged.
Top-traded stocks included HASCOL, leading with 85.14 million shares traded (+12.14%), followed by FFL and KEL.
Economic Highlights
The positive sentiment in the equity market aligns with an improving external account position. Pakistan’s current account posted a surplus of $218 million in the first four months of FY25, a sharp turnaround from the $1.53 billion deficit during the same period last year. Higher remittances, despite rising imports, supported this recovery.
Outlook
The KSE-100’s consistent upward trajectory underscores investor confidence in the country’s economic prospects. With expectations of sustained liquidity inflows and stable macroeconomic indicators, the index is likely to maintain its positive momentum in the near term.
PAKISTAN MARKETS
The Pakistani Rupee (PKR) depreciated by 18.57 paisa, or 0.07%, against the US dollar in Monday’s interbank session, closing at PKR 277.86 per USD compared to the previous trading day’s PKR 277.67. The day’s intraday activity saw the PKR touch a high of 278.00 (bid) and a low of 277.90 (ask).
After a brief decline in the previous session, gold prices in Pakistan rose on Monday in tandem with an increase in international rates. In the local market, the price per tola of gold surged by Rs2,500, settling at Rs269,900, according to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewelers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).
