Stocks climb further on sustained buying momentum

Bullish sentiment dominated the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), driving the benchmark KSE-100 index to further gains of around 1,278 on Friday, subsequently closing at 161,935.19, advancing from the prior close of 160,657.50 with a healthy rise of 0.80%, or 1,277.69 points.

Market breadth remained positive, with 276 equities finishing higher, while 155 slipped into negative territory. During the day, the index touched an intra-day peak of 162,118.76 and a floor of 160,791.78.

Market opened on a subdued tone. However, a strong wave of accumulation emerged in the latter half of the day, propelling the index by more than a thousand points. Momentum was largely driven by improved participation across several major segments of the market.

Read: Pakistan blocks Afghan fruit import via Iran amid border closures

Automakers, banks, fertiliser producers, exploration counters, oil marketing firms, power companies, and refinery shares all attracted steady inflows. Additionally, blue-chip heavyweights such as oil & gas, energy, and banks remained key contributors to the overall uptick.

On the macroeconomic side, the latest reading of the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) for the week ending 13 November 2025 showed a 4.15% year-on-year climb, along with a 0.53% week-on-week increase, adding a cautious undertone to the otherwise upbeat trading environment.

In a regional landscape, Pakistan kept border trade with Afghanistan suspended due to aggressive moves from the other side of the border.

KTrade Securities wrote in its market wrap that PSX delivered a mixed, yet broadly positive performance on Friday, extending momentum from yesterday’s strong rally.

The benchmark KSE-100 index gained 1,277 points (+0.80%) day-on-day to close at 161,935 points. Positive contributions were led primarily by the banking, oil & gas, cement, and power sectors. Heavyweight stocks such as Habib Bank, United Bank, Maple Leaf Cement, Oil and Gas Development Company, Pakistan Petroleum, Hub Power, and Pioneer Cement drove the index higher.

Despite the market’s upward move, overall participation remained subdued. Looking ahead, KTrade thinks the sentiment is likely to remain sensitive due to developments in the law-and-order environment, the political landscape, and key macroeconomic indicators.

In particular, investors will be closely monitoring progress on the upcoming IMF tranche, as well as shifts in regional geopolitical dynamics, all of which may influence near-term market direction, it wrote.

Overall trading volume decreased to 673.4 million shares against Thursday’s tally of 797.12 million. Value of traded shares stood at Rs34.6 billion. Pace Pakistan was the volume leader with trading in 51.8 million shares, losing Rs1.47 to close at Rs27.61.