KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended Friday’s session lower, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index dropping 312.77 points, or 0.26%, to close at 119,649.14. This followed a record-breaking rally on Thursday when the index surged over 1,400 points to reach an all-time high of 119,961.91, fueled by positive economic data and investor optimism ahead of the upcoming budget.
Friday’s trading saw volatility, with the KSE-100 reaching an intraday high of 120,506.17 and a low of 119,541.15, spanning a range of about 965 points. The market witnessed profit-taking as investors locked in gains from the previous session.
Despite the decline, the KSE-100 has delivered strong returns over the past year, rising 59.68%, and has gained 3.93% year-to-date, reflecting continued investor confidence in Pakistan’s long-term economic outlook.
Analysts attribute the recent market rally to key developments such as the IMF’s approval of a $1.3 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility, Pakistan’s launch of its first sovereign domestic green sukuk, and a reduced debt-to-GDP ratio of 65%. These factors have strengthened market sentiment and boosted trading activity.
Although Friday saw a pullback, market participants remain hopeful about the PSX’s future growth, expecting further gains supported by ongoing economic reforms and positive fiscal policies.