Pakistan Stock Exchange closes marginally higher at 166,564 points as investors weigh domestic inflation concerns and easing global oil prices.
The KSE-100 Index recorded a range-bound trading session on November 2, 2026, closing slightly higher as investors remained cautious amid mixed economic signals.
The benchmark index settled at 166,564 points, gaining 155 points or 0.09% compared with the previous close. During the session, it moved between an intraday high of 166,989 points and a low of 165,585 points, reflecting limited overall movement.
Investor sentiment remained cautious as market participants weighed domestic inflationary concerns against easing international crude oil prices. Buying interest in selected heavyweight stocks provided some support to the benchmark, although profit-taking restricted further gains.
Commercial banking and cement stocks attracted buying interest, helping the index maintain its positive position. However, selective selling in other stocks limited the broader market’s upward movement.
Meanwhile, the government has shifted the burden of higher Motor Spirit (MS) import costs onto local refineries to avoid passing the increase on to consumers, according to a pricing notification dated October 31, 2026.
The decision is expected to affect the petroleum pricing framework, as local refineries will bear the additional import-related costs rather than consumers facing an immediate increase in petrol prices. The development remained among the factors relevant to investor sentiment during the trading session.
Market activity remained steady, with regular-market trading volumes exceeding 443 million shares. The total traded value stood at approximately Rs17.7 billion, indicating continued participation by investors despite the cautious market direction.
The marginal gain reflects a largely balanced trading session, with selective buying in heavyweight sectors offset by profit-taking elsewhere. Investors continued to monitor domestic economic developments and international oil price movements for further direction.