Karachi, February 12, 2025 – The benchmark KSE-100 index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a mixed session on Wednesday as investors reacted to the latest MSCI review.
The KSE-100 index recorded a marginal decline of 85 points, closing at 112,925 points compared to the previous day’s closing of 113,010 points. Throughout the trading session, the KSE-100 fluctuated significantly, hitting an intraday high of 426 points and a low of 389 points, reflecting market uncertainty.
Analysts at Topline Securities Limited noted that the KSE-100 index remained range-bound as investor sentiment wavered following MSCI’s review. The review resulted in the inclusion of ABOT and SEARL in the MSCI Frontier Market Index, while BFBIO, BIFO, and Power Cement were added to the MSCI Frontier Market Small Cap Index. However, market expectations were not fully met, contributing to subdued trading activity on the KSE-100.
Despite the uncertainty, select stocks provided upward momentum for the KSE-100 index. Major contributors to the gains included PPL, BOP, PTC, AKBL, and MLCF, collectively adding 202 points. Conversely, pressure on the KSE-100 came from HBL, HUBC, MTL, BAFL, MARI, and NBP, which together erased 220 points from the index.
Overall, market participation remained robust, with increased trading activity observed throughout the session. The total trading volume surged to 688 million shares, with a total turnover of Rs 27.8 billion. The Bank of Punjab (BOP) emerged as the volume leader, with 55.9 million shares traded, reflecting strong investor interest.
Market experts anticipate that the KSE-100 index may witness further fluctuations in the coming sessions, influenced by both global and local economic developments. Investors are closely monitoring corporate earnings reports, macroeconomic indicators, and foreign fund flows, which could shape the KSE-100’s trajectory in the near future.
As the market digests the implications of the MSCI review, analysts expect selective buying in fundamentally strong stocks to provide support to the KSE-100 index. Traders are advised to adopt a cautious approach, considering the ongoing volatility that continues to impact the benchmark index’s performance.