Karachi, March 21, 2025: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended its six-day rally on Friday, with the KSE-100 Index declining by 327.60 points (0.28%), closing at 118,442.17.
The index saw fluctuations throughout the trading session, reaching an intra-day high of 119,405.91 and a low of 118,334.40. Trading volume stood at 172.2 million shares, with a total value of Rs 14.91 billion. Despite the decline, key sectors displayed resilience, keeping investor sentiment relatively stable.
The KSE-100 Index initially surged nearly 600 points in early trading, reaching 119,361.22, fueled by buying activity in key sectors such as commercial banks, oil & gas exploration, oil marketing companies (OMCs), and power generation. Stocks such as SSGC, WAFI, MARI, OGDC, PPL, HBL, NBP, and UBL showed upward movement.
However, investor caution prevailed amid global uncertainties, leading to a negative close. Analysts pointed to profit-taking and concerns over economic stability as factors behind the downturn.
Optimism about an imminent staff-level agreement (SLA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had initially driven market gains. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmed reiterated expectations for an agreement but did not provide a concrete timeline.
The market is also closely monitoring government efforts to address the circular debt in the energy sector, which could improve cash flow for affected companies.
Thursday’s session had marked a record intra-day high above 119,000, with the KSE-100 Index gaining nearly 800 points and closing at 118,769.77—its sixth consecutive day of gains.
Investor confidence was boosted by expectations surrounding IMF negotiations, electricity price reductions, tax relaxations, and economic policy reforms. However, foreign investors sold shares worth Rs 720.8 million, tempering the market’s momentum.
Despite the recent pullback, analysts believe strong fundamentals in key sectors could support further gains, while advising investors to exercise caution and focus on profit-taking at higher levels.
