Karachi, January 1, 2026 – The KSE-100 Index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) began the New Year 2026 on a strong note, reaching a fresh all-time high of 176,355 points on Thursday. The benchmark index surged by 2,301 points from the previous close of 174,054 points, reflecting strong investor confidence at the start of the new calendar year.
According to analysts at Topline Securities Limited, the robust trading session was driven primarily by buying activity from local institutional investors, who set a positive tone for the year ahead. The KSE-100 Index recorded a 1.32% gain, signaling optimism across key sectors of the market.
Top contributors to the index gains included UBL, OGDC, ENGRO, HBL, LUCK, and BAHL, which collectively added 1,207 points to the benchmark. In terms of traded value, OGDC (PKR 9.87bn), PIBTL (PKR 9.8bn), SEARL (PKR 8.92bn), KEL (PKR 8.15bn), and BOP (PKR 7.2bn) led the activity, highlighting the concentration of investor interest in blue-chip stocks.
The overall trading session saw a total volume of 1.4 billion shares with a traded value of PKR 48 billion, indicating healthy liquidity in the market. Analysts noted that the start-of-year rally is often driven by fresh capital inflows from institutional and retail investors, and early positive momentum could support further gains if local economic indicators remain stable.
Market experts advise investors to watch key sectors such as banking, energy, and pharmaceuticals, which are expected to play a pivotal role in maintaining market momentum during the opening quarter of 2026.