The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s benchmark extended its run on Tuesday, with PSX KSE-100 index gains of 1,428.73 points, or 0.88%, taking the index to a close of 164,467.20. The market stayed in positive territory throughout the day, after touching a high of 164,787.67 and a low of 163,545.70.
Buying was spread across heavyweight groups—cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies and oil marketing companies—helping sustain the advance from a strong open. MCB Bank, Fauji Fertiliser, UBL, Pakistan Petroleum and NBP were among the main contributors. Investors appeared willing to keep equity exposure even as monetary policy tightened.
Rate hike did not stop the advance
The upbeat tone came despite a decision by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)—the country’s central bank—to raise its policy rate by 50 basis points to 12%, effective Tuesday. The move had raised concerns about borrowing costs, but demand in large sectors still supported prices. Softer international oil prices and hopes of progress toward easing Middle East hostilities also fed the constructive mood, though attacks on Saudi Arabia and maritime shipping kept oil near six-month highs and left investors cautious.
Corporate results season added another layer of activity, with stock-specific flows creating selective buying even while broader economic worries remained. Overall sentiment stayed careful amid geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East, Israeli elections and the approaching US midterm polls.
Turnover and stock movers
Trading volume rose to 401.9 million shares from Monday’s 376 million, while the value of shares traded was Rs18 billion. In the ready market, 497 companies changed hands: 282 closed higher, 170 fell and 45 were unchanged. K-Electric was the volume leader, with 54 million shares traded; the stock rose Rs0.15 to close at Rs5.80.
Ahmed Sheraz of KASB KTrade said the session was “primarily supported by buying interest in commercial banks, cement, fertiliser, and automobile sectors.” He noted that Brent crude was still around $115–116 a barrel, a level that raises concerns about imported inflation, and that elevated domestic inflation plus the SBP’s move to 12% may continue to weigh on sentiment.
What traders are watching next
Sheraz said the market is expected to keep a mixed-to-cautious tone, with corporate earnings, oil prices, geopolitical news and macroeconomic indicators likely to set direction. Selective buying may still support the index, he added, though volatility is expected to stay elevated. For now, the latest PSX KSE-100 index gains show investors can look past a tighter policy stance when sector demand and external cues line up.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Monday: Ready-market volume stood at 376 million shares, before Tuesday’s stronger turnover.
- Tuesday: The SBP’s 50-basis-point policy rate increase to 12% took effect.
- Tuesday: The KSE-100 added 1,428.73 points to close at 164,467.20 and remained in the green all session, with volume at 401.9 million shares.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Mangal ko Pakistan Stock Exchange ka index barh kar 164,467 par band hua. Qareeban 1,429 points ka faida hua, halanke State Bank ne interest rate 12% kar diya tha. Banks, cement aur oil companies ke shares zyada kharide gaye. Jo log shares rakhte hain unke liye din achha tha, lekin aage oil prices aur inflation ki wajah se market careful reh sakti hai.
