KARACHI – The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its bullish momentum on Wednesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 index climbing 1,317.85 points (0.87%) to 152,293.33 during intra-day trading.
The index hit an intra-day high of 152,383.82 and a low of 151,320.49, continuing the market’s record-breaking streak. Trading activity stayed upbeat, with 139.4 million shares changing hands, while the total value of transactions stood at Rs14.33 billion.
The rally comes on the heels of Tuesday’s strong close, when the KSE-100 settled at 150,975.48 after gaining 1,004 points (0.67%).
Market optimism has been buoyed by improving macroeconomic indicators and renewed investor interest in key sectors. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported a trade deficit of $2.88 billion in August, down 9% month-on-month compared to July’s $3.15 billion, reinforcing positive sentiment.
Brokerage houses also highlighted the upbeat mood. In its market note, Arif Habib Limited (AHL) said the index’s intra-day surge had already surpassed its short-term target of 151,200 flagged during last week’s downturn. Similarly, Topline Securities credited the sustained momentum, noting that the index gained 1,105 points during trading on Tuesday before closing firmly in the green.
On the volume chart, The Bank of Punjab (BoP) led activity with 174.4 million shares traded, rising by Rs1 to close at Rs17.58. It was followed by Pak Electron, which traded 52.7 million shares but slipped Rs0.07 to close at Rs52.47, while First National Equities exchanged 39.8 million shares, falling Rs0.40 to Rs6.64.
With the KSE-100 breaking new ground beyond the 152,000 level, analysts say the rally reflects growing confidence in the market outlook, though sustained momentum will depend on the stability of economic fundamentals.