Pakistan’s benchmark index recovered from early weakness as selective buying in blue-chip and cyclical stocks lifted the market, though resistance near 178,000 points persisted.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed higher on Tuesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining 404.02 points, or 0.23%, to settle at 177,370.71 points.

Trading remained volatile throughout the session, with the index recovering from early weakness as selective buying emerged across key sectors. However, investor sentiment remained cautious amid continued resistance around the 178,000-point level.

Market activity suggested that investors remained selective, focusing mainly on blue-chip and cyclical stocks. The KSE-100 Index continues to face resistance near the 178,000 level, keeping the short-term market outlook largely range-bound.

UBL, MEBL lead market gains

On the positive side, UBL, MEBL, FFC, HBL and LUCK were among the major contributors to the benchmark.

The five stocks collectively added approximately 667 points to the KSE-100 Index, providing significant support to the market during the session.

Meanwhile, selling pressure in selected stocks limited the overall gains.

OGDC, ENGROH and SYS emerged among the major laggards, collectively shaving approximately 201 points from the index.

PSX trading activity remains active

Market participation remained active during the session, with total traded volume reaching 644.8 million shares.

The total traded value stood at approximately PKR 31.4 billion, highlighting continued investor participation despite the market’s cautious tone.

The KSE-100’s recovery from early losses indicates some buying interest at lower levels, although the inability to decisively cross the 178,000-point mark suggests that investors remain cautious.

Going forward, market direction is likely to remain dependent on developments affecting investor sentiment, while selective buying in fundamentally strong stocks could continue to provide support to the benchmark.