The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remains range-bound but positive as the KSE-100 Index consolidated around the 188,000 level, supported by easing T-bill yields and strength in key energy, fertiliser and industrial stocks.

 

Despite intermittent profit-taking and mixed market breadth, the benchmark on Thursday maintained resilience, closing the day higher.

 

The KSE-100 Index settled at 187,688.16 points, up 654.90 points or 0.35%. ENGROH, HUBC, EFERT, ATRL and AICL together added 607 points, while losses in UBL, HBL, BOP, FFC and MARI erased 217 points.

 

An Arif Habib Limited report noted that 55 shares advanced and 43 declined during the session. Gains were led by ENGROH, HUBC and EFERT, while UBL, HBL and BOP weighed on the index.

 

The report also highlighted Pakistan’s acceptance of United States (US) President Donald Trump’s invitation to join his Board of Peace initiative, alongside seven other countries.

 

On the corporate front, AIRLINK announced a partnership with HISENSE to manufacture and distribute home appliances in Pakistan.

 

Trading remained volatile, with the index hitting an intraday high of 188,106 points and a low of 186,852 points.

 

Market participation was strong, with 1.07 billion shares traded at a value of Rs49.2 billion. K-Electric led volumes with 195.9 million shares, closing at Rs7.10. Hascol Petroleum followed with 131.5 million shares, losing Rs1.94 to close at Rs26.11, while Bank Makramah gained Rs0.15 to settle at Rs5.21.

 

Nawaz Ali of JS Global said profit-taking was observed across the board after several bullish sessions, with pressure from MEBL, ENGROH, MCB, SYS and UBL.

 

He noted valuations remain attractive and the market is anticipating another rate cut in the upcoming monetary policy, advising investors to adopt a buy-on-dips strategy focused on oil and gas and banking stocks.

 

Foreign investors sold shares worth Rs1.8 billion, according to the National Clearing Company. The KSE-100 Index is up 1.4% week-on-week, with 185,000 acting as a key technical support level.