PSX extends rally as KSE-100 approaches 148,000 mark with strong gains

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened the second trading day of the week on a bullish note, with the benchmark KSE-100 index making strong early gains. Within the first two minutes of the session, the index surged by 717.23 points to reach 147,677.07, with volumes standing at 1.79 million shares.

The upward momentum continued, and by 11:06 AM, the index had climbed 1,047 points to touch 147,976.98, supported by robust trading activity of over 125.46 million shares.

By 11:36 AM, the KSE-100 was at 147,740.36, showing a gain of 810.52 points or 0.55 percent compared to the previous close of 146,929.84. The session’s intraday performance saw the index hit a high of 147,976.98 and a low of 147,309.18, with total traded volume crossing 155.36 million shares.

In a broader perspective, the market has recorded a remarkable 89.41 percent increase over the past year and a 28.30 percent gain year-to-date, with the KSE-100’s 52-week range spanning from 77,460.40 to its current record high.

Top gainers and decliners

Among individual stocks, notable gainers included GSPM and ASC, both up by Rs1.00, and YOUW, which rose 12.38 percent to Rs5.72. Other prominent advancers were FEM, FIBLM, RUBY, GRYL, PASM, BFMOD, and MWMP, all posting gains around 10 percent or more. On the other hand, top laggards were led by ASLCPS, which fell 9.75 percent to Rs19.15, followed by PPVC, DMTM, NSRM, and DIIL, each recording significant declines.

Previous close

On Monday, the KSE-100 had closed at 146,929.84, marking a 1,547.05-point or 1.06 percent gain. The previous session saw an intraday range of 1,746.68 points, with a high of 147,005.17 and a low of 145,258.49, on a total volume of 299.28 million shares.

Market analysts remain optimistic, with Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, noting that progress on resolving circular debt could sustain bullish momentum. However, he also cautioned that some consolidation or a mild correction was possible, identifying 145,000 and 143,000 as key support levels and 150,000 as the next major resistance.

PSX to remain closed on August 14

Meanwhile, the PSX has announced that it will remain closed on Thursday, August 14, 2025, in observance of Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day. In a notice issued by Jawad H. Hashmi, General Manager and Chief Market Operations Officer, the exchange informed market participants that no trading will take place on the day, marking the nation’s historic independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Normal trading operations will resume on Friday, August 15.

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