The KSE-100 Index closed Thursday’s trading session on a positive note, finishing at 92,520.48, reflecting an increase of 499.04 points or 0.54%. The market remained in positive territory throughout the session, reaching an intraday high of 92,694.53 (+673.09 points) and a low of 92,185.69 (+164.25 points), with a trading volume of 322.63 million shares for the KSE-100.
Market Performance Summary
- Advances: 56 companies
- Declines: 43 companies
- Unchanged: 1 company
Top Gainers:
- BNWM (+10.00%)
- PKGS (+7.96%)
- HCAR (+7.94%)
- DAWH (+7.58%)
- KOSM (+7.41%)
Top Losers:
- FCEPL (-4.36%)
- EPCL (-3.65%)
- EFUG (-3.30%)
- KOHC (-3.13%)
- CNERGY (-2.19%)
Sector-Wise Contributions
The sectors that supported the KSE-100 Index included:
- Fertilizer (+164.55 points)
- Investment Banks/Companies/Securities (+120.34 points)
- Oil & Gas Exploration (+111.65 points)
- Power Generation & Distribution (+70.10 points)
- Paper, Board & Packaging (+31.24 points)
Meanwhile, sectors that dragged on the index were:
- Cement (-45.43 points)
- Technology & Communication (-37.22 points)
- Chemical (-16.06 points)
- Food & Personal Care Products (-11.53 points)
- Insurance (-10.53 points)
Broader Market and Volume Leaders
In the broader market, the All-Share Index rose 341.33 points (0.58%) to close at 58,870.74. The total market volume decreased to 678.79 million shares from 889.17 million in the previous session, with a traded value of Rs24.83 billion(down by Rs5.65 billion).
Top Volume Leaders:
- BOP: 6.57 (+5.80%) – 62.92 million shares
- KOSM: 7.83 (+7.41%) – 46.53 million shares
- KEL: 4.80 (+3.45%) – 34.72 million shares
- HASCOL: 7.33 (+0.69%) – 27.35 million shares
- FLYNG: 25.88 (-10.01%) – 24.99 million shares
Year-to-Date Performance
- Fiscal Year Gain: The KSE-100 has increased by 14,076 points or 17.94%.
- Calendar Year Gain: The index has risen by 30,069 points or 48.15%.
The market’s positive performance suggests improving investor confidence, with key sectors, especially Fertilizer and Oil & Gas, providing significant support. However, some sectors like Cement and Technology & Communication saw profit-taking, potentially setting the stage for volatility. Going forward, investor focus may remain on fiscal policies and global economic trends, which are influencing emerging markets.
PAKISTAN MARKETS
On Thursday, the Pakistani Rupee (PKR) declined slightly by 5.38 paisa or 0.02% against the U.S. Dollar in the interbank market, closing at PKR 277.95 per USD compared to the previous rate of 277.89. During the day, PKR reached an intraday high (bid) of 278.10 and a low (ask) of 278.00.
Gold prices in Pakistan saw a substantial drop on Thursday, with 24-karat gold priced at Rs276,800 per tola, reflecting a decrease of Rs5,400. The Karachi Sarafa Association also reported that 24-karat gold for 10 grams dropped by Rs4,630 to Rs237,311, while 22-karat gold was at Rs217,535 per 10 grams. Silver prices followed suit, with 24-karat silver falling by Rs130 per tola to Rs3,300 and by Rs111 per 10 grams to Rs2,829.
The main driver of this decline is the strengthened U.S. dollar, which surged after Donald Trump secured the U.S. presidency. Trump’s election is anticipated to lead to a pro-dollar economic agenda that includes tariff measures and potential tax cuts, making USD-denominated assets like gold more expensive for international buyers. This shift triggered significant selling in bullion markets, with international spot gold prices trading around $2,660 per ounce, down by 3.09% over the last two sessions.
