Karachi, October 2, 2025: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a historic rally on Thursday as the benchmark KSE-100 index closed above the 168,000 mark for the first time, lifted by robust buying in the banking sector.
The index surged 2,849.29 points, or 1.72%, to settle at 168,489.63. Intra-day trade remained volatile, touching a high of 168,619.32 and a low of 165,567.22. Total share turnover stood at 776 million shares, reflecting strong investor participation.
Market sentiment was buoyed by improving economic indicators, upbeat corporate earnings, renewed foreign inflows, and positive macro signals, including Pakistan–Saudi defence cooperation, progress on the circular debt plan, and improving Pak–US ties.
According to Arif Habib Limited (AHL), the rally was fueled largely by banks, with Meezan Bank (+8.65%), United Bank (+3.08%), and Bank Al Habib (+6.27%) leading the charge. Collectively, financial stocks contributed 1,827 points to the index. In contrast, Lucky Cement (-1.45%), Hub Power (-0.68%), and TPL REIT Fund (-6.02%) weighed on gains.
KTrade Securities described the session as a “banking day,” with major lenders — including MEBL, UBL, BAHL, HBL, NBP, MCB, BOP, FABL, and BAFL — posting sharp gains. Participation remained robust as All-Share Index volumes hit 1.56 billion shares.
Topline Securities noted that aggressive buying by mutual funds sustained the bullish trend throughout the day. Despite modest profit-taking in cement, power and tech stocks, momentum stayed firmly upward.
In sectoral developments, Fatima Fertiliser (+2.74%) crossed the $1 billion market capitalization milestone, while Procter & Gamble Co announced plans to exit Pakistan, winding down its local and Gillette operations.
On the macro front, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported that the trade deficit widened to $3.34 billion in September from $2.87 billion in August, as exports fell 11.7% year-on-year and imports rose 14%. Separately, cement sales rose 7% YoY to 4.25 million tons.
Overall participation stayed high, with trading in shares of 489 companies: 239 closed higher, 227 fell, and 23 remained unchanged. The Bank of Punjab led the volume chart, with 148.2 million shares traded, gaining Rs2.98 to close at Rs32.78.
Heading into the final session of the week, the KSE-100 is up 3.84% week-on-week, with immediate support seen around the 166,000 level, according to AHL.
