Karachi, January 15, 2025 – The benchmark KSE-100 index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a significant decline of 308 points during a volatile trading session on Wednesday. The index ended the day at 114,496 points, a drop from the previous session’s close of 114,809 points.
According to analysts at Topline Securities Limited, the KSE-100 index entered a consolidation phase, marked by sharp price fluctuations and mixed investor sentiment. The intraday movement was highly erratic, with the index reaching a high of 969 points and plunging to a low of 505 points before settling at a 0.27% decline. This behavior reflects a cautious outlook among investors as they navigated through unpredictable market signals.
The power sector drew significant attention as news of the federal cabinet’s approval of revised agreements with 14 Independent Power Producers (IPPs) sparked investor interest in HUBC (Hub Power Company). The announcement contributed positively to the overall sector sentiment.
In the auto sector, GAL (Ghandhara Industries) saw extended positive momentum, buoyed by the successful launch of its new pickup truck, the “JAC T9 Hunter.” Strong demand led to the temporary closure of bookings, which further fueled investor optimism and drove GAL’s stock performance.
Among the key gainers in today’s session were FFC (Fauji Fertilizer Company), HUBC, BAFL (Bank Alfalah), GLAXO, and ABOT (Abbott Laboratories), which together contributed 339 points to the KSE-100 index. On the flip side, significant losses in stocks like ENGROH (Engro Corporation), MARI (Mari Petroleum), SRVI (Service Industries Limited), UBL (United Bank Limited), and SYS (Systems Limited) collectively wiped out 514 points from the index.
Despite the decline, market activity remained vibrant, with a total of 658 million shares traded, valued at Rs 39.6 billion. WTL (WorldCall Telecom) led the volume chart with 68 million shares exchanged during the session, demonstrating strong investor engagement.
Overall, the KSE-100 index’s performance today exemplified the cautious nature of the market as investors balanced between positive news in specific sectors like power and automotive, and broader concerns over the volatile trading environment. As market sentiment remains mixed, analysts are closely monitoring the next few sessions to gauge whether the index can stabilize or if further volatility is likely in the short term.