The Pakistan Stock Exchange PSX (KSE-100) index concluded Friday’s trading session at 67,005.11, marking a slight decrease of 137.02 points or 0.2%. Despite this dip, the index demonstrated resilience, trading within a range of 485.21 points throughout the day, with an intraday high of 67,307.63 and a low of 66,822.43. The total volume of shares traded on the KSE-100 index amounted to 142.211 million.
Despite the day’s downturn, the index secured a significant quarterly gain of 4,554 points or 7.3%, reflecting the underlying strength in the market.
Among the 100 index companies, 39 closed higher, 53 closed lower, 4 remained unchanged, while 4 did not witness any trading activity.
The decline in the KSE-100 index was primarily influenced by sectors such as Technology & Communication, Power Generation & Distribution, Oil & Gas Exploration Companies, Fertilizer, and Cement.
Conversely, sectors including Chemical, Textile Composite, Tobacco, Commercial Banks, and Paper & Board contributed positively to the index.
Individual companies played a significant role in shaping the index’s performance. Companies such as FFC, HUBC, BAFL, TRG, and OGDC weighed down the index, while ENGRO, MCB, MEBL, ILP, and COLG added points, mitigating some of the losses.
In the broader market, the All-Share index closed at 44,562.88, recording a net gain of 92.56 points. Total market volume stood at 313.035 million shares, while the traded value amounted to Rs9.90 billion, indicating a decrease from the previous session.
The top ten companies by volume included PIAA, PTC, CNERGY, KEL, AGL, PAKRI, WTL, TPLP, LOTCHEM, and HASCOL, reflecting the trading activity in the market.
Looking at the broader trend, the KSE-100 index has showcased robust performance, gaining 25,552 points or 61.64% during the fiscal year, while the ongoing calendar year has witnessed a cumulative increase of 4,554 points, equivalent to 7.29%.
MARKET NOISE
Gold rates in Pakistan have risen sharply, reaching Rs.234,800 per tola, up by Rs.3,800. Globally, gold is close to all-time highs at nearly $2,230 per troy ounce, extending its winning streak for the fifth consecutive session. However, trading volumes are light, likely due to Good Friday observance. Nonetheless, gold’s performance on shorter time frames indicates some struggle, hinting at possible fluctuations ahead.
Throughout March, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) remained stable against the US Dollar, closing the month with a slight increase of 1.16 rupees, settling at PKR 277.95 per USD. Notably, in Friday’s trading session alone, the local currency experienced appreciation, strengthening by 8.61 paisa against the greenback.
