The Pakistan stock market witnessed a significant rally on Friday, with the benchmark KSE-100 index climbing 341 points. The index closed at 37,584 points, up from 37,243 points, marking a robust session of across-the-board buying activities.
Analysts at Arif Habib Limited noted that high trading volumes and a rising market have become the norm for the KSE-100. Since hitting a low of 28,671 points in August 2019, the index has gained approximately 9,000 points, demonstrating a rapid and sustained upward trajectory. Friday’s trading session was no exception to this trend, showcasing strong investor confidence and market momentum.
The stock market gained a total of 392 points during the day, closing near the session’s high at +368 points. The buying activity was widespread but saw significant contributions from the Banking, Oil & Gas Marketing Companies (O&GMCs), Steel, Cement, and Fertilizer sectors.
Leading the volumes table was the Cement sector with 82.9 million shares traded, followed by the Banks sector with 53.9 million shares, and the Engineering sector with 38.1 million shares. This broad participation across multiple sectors underscores the diverse investment interest driving the market.
In terms of individual scrips, the Bank of Punjab (BOP) topped the chart with 36.2 million shares traded, followed by Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCFR1) with 25 million shares, and Dost Steels Limited (DSL) with 20.9 million shares.
Sector-wise performance contributions were notable from Banks (+83 points), O&GMCs (+50 points), Investment Banks (+35 points), Autos (+30 points), and Pharmaceuticals (+20 points).
Trading volumes saw a further increase, rising from 336.4 million shares to 368.4 million shares, reflecting a 10 percent day-on-day (DoD) increase. However, the average traded value dipped by 6 percent, reaching $61.6 million compared to $65.4 million in the previous session.
Key stocks that contributed significantly to the volumes included BOP, MLCFR1, DSL, Fauji Cement Company Limited (FCCL), and K-Electric Limited (KEL), accounting for 30 percent of the total volumes. On the positive side, major contributors included Habib Bank Limited (HBL) with +29 points, Dawood Hercules Corporation Limited (DAWH) with +27 points, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) with +22 points, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) with +21 points, and Millat Tractors Limited (MTL) with +16 points. Conversely, stocks contributing negatively were Engro Fertilizers (EFERT) with -9 points, Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL) with -8 points, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MARI) with -8 points, Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) with -8 points, and Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC) with -5 points.
This vibrant trading session reflects growing investor confidence and a positive outlook for the market, driven by strong performances across key sectors. As the KSE-100 index continues to climb, market participants remain optimistic about future growth prospects.
