Karachi: The Pakistan Stock Exchange witnessed a notable increase in trading activity on Monday, with the benchmark KSE100 index climbing by 2,184.78 points, or 1.34 percent, to close at 165,373.31. This surge was propelled by significant gains in key stocks such as Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited and Meezan Bank.
The KSE30 index also experienced an upward trend, rising by 758.11 points, or 1.52 percent, to reach 50,494.04. Fatima Fertilizer topped the list of gainers, with its share price increasing by 6.96 percent to Rs 154.50. Meezan Bank followed with a 4.42 percent rise, closing at Rs 440.79. Pakistan Services Limited and Pakistan Petroleum Limited also posted gains of 4.09 percent and 3.47 percent, respectively.
Despite the optimistic performance across most sectors, some stocks saw declines. Pak Oman Microfinance Bank Limited (POML) led the list of losers, with its share price dropping by 2.49 percent to Rs 183.58. Other decliners included Kohat Cement Company, International Industries Limited, and Murree Brewery Company Limited, which recorded losses of 1.46 percent, 1.25 percent, and 1.17 percent, respectively.
The market capitalization of the Pakistan Stock Exchange saw an increase of 1.25 percent, reaching Rs 18,744.29 billion. In US dollars, the market cap rose to $66.81 billion. The total volume of shares traded was 498.36 million, with a total value of Rs 30.59 billion, equivalent to $109.04 million.
Notably, the year's to-date change for the KSE100 index stands at 43.64 percent, while the fiscal year-to-date change is 31.64 percent. The PSX market capitalization has increased by 29.31 percent year-to-date, reflecting a robust performance.
In regional markets, mixed trends were observed. While China (SSEA) and Korea (KOSPI) posted gains of 0.3 percent and 0.7 percent respectively, markets in Indonesia (JKSE), Malaysia (KLSE), and the Philippines (PSI) faced declines.
The positive momentum in the Pakistan Stock Exchange is indicative of growing investor confidence, with certain sectors and stocks showing resilience and potential for future growth.