The Pakistan stock market witnessed a modest gain of 177 points amid range-bound trading activities, with the benchmark KSE-100 index closing at 45,903 points, up from the previous day’s close of 45,726 points.
Analysts at Arif Habib Limited observed that the market fluctuated between a low of -130 points and a high of +251 points during the session, ultimately ending with a net gain of 177 points. The trading environment was marked by selling pressure particularly in the banking and fertilizer sectors.
A significant development seen at the stock market during the session was the announcement by the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Petroleum regarding the potential removal of the cap on MARI Petroleum’s dividend declaration. This news triggered a surge in MARI’s stock, which hit the upper circuit. The optimism also extended to the Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC), which holds substantial shares in MARI, resulting in positive performance for OGDC as well.
Among the actively traded scripts at the stock market, TRG Pakistan Limited led the volume chart with 29.4 million shares, followed by Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) with 28.8 million shares, and Fauji Foods Limited (FFL) with 22.2 million shares. These three stocks collectively accounted for a significant portion of the day’s trading volume.
Sector-wise performance at the stock market saw contributions from Power (+77 points), Exploration and Production (E&P) (+73 points), Technology (+47 points), Miscellaneous (+11 points), while the Textile sector contributed negatively (-15 points).
Trading volumes declined by 10 percent, from 543.6 million shares to 491.8 million shares. Similarly, the average traded value decreased by 9 percent, reaching $124.1 million compared to $134.8 million in the previous session.
Noteworthy contributions to the index’s performance came from Hub Power Company (HUBC) with +74 points, TRG with +60 points, MARI with +57 points, OGDC with +28 points, and Bank Alfalah Limited (BAHL) with +27 points. On the downside, Habib Bank Limited (HBL) detracted -24 points, United Bank Limited (UBL) -21 points, Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL) -14 points, Systems Limited (SYS) -13 points, and Millat Tractors Limited (MTL) -11 points.
The session’s mixed sentiment and moderate gains highlight the market’s cautious yet optimistic outlook, influenced by sector-specific developments and investor reactions to corporate news. As the market navigates these dynamics, stakeholders remain vigilant of upcoming announcements and economic indicators that could further influence trading activities and index performance.
