PSX surges over 4,000 points to close near 174,000 mark

Weekly gains touch 6,747 points as investors chase gains amid hopes of Middle East resolution

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its strong post-ceasefire rally on Friday, with the KSE-100 Index surpassing the 173,000 level to close at 173,939, up 4,027 points (+2.37% DoD), reflecting sustained bullish momentum.

"Market sentiment remained firmly positive throughout the session, as investors chased gains amid optimism over a potential Middle East resolution, further strengthening risk appetite," said Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading of Arif Habib Ltd.

The benchmark KSE-100 Index had a strong weekly gain of 6,747 points (+4.04%) to close at 173,939. During the week, the index recorded an intra-day high of 174,404 and a low of 160,159, reflecting a sharp recovery in market sentiment. UBL, NBP, PPL, OGDC, LUCK, HBL, BOP, HUBC, ENGROH & BAHL emerged as the top 10 positive contributors by adding 2,497 points due to buying interest in them.

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Market activity remained robust, with total traded volume of 1.437 billion shares and turnover of Rs67.9 billion, led by Bank of Punjab with over 153.7 million shares traded.

Ongoing diplomatic developments have also triggered FOMO-driven positioning, with participants actively rebuilding exposure ahead of a possible positive outcome.

Going forward, the potential second round of US–Iran talks in Islamabad remains a key catalyst for market direction. Although no formal schedule has been confirmed, ongoing diplomatic efforts and backchannel engagement suggest negotiations are likely to continue in the near term.

As a result, market sentiment is expected to stay broadly supported, however, it will remain highly sensitive to headlines and incremental developments, with each update carrying the potential to significantly influence near-term momentum and investor positioning.