Overview
- The KSE-100 jumped more than 2,200 points on Thursday and, per later reports, closed around 160,657, regaining the 160,000 mark after two volatile sessions.
- Traders pointed to expectations for the IMF to approve a roughly $1.2 billion tranche next month as the key catalyst for the sharp rebound.
- The surge followed a 3,667.9-point plunge on Tuesday to 157,870.50 and a modest 313-point recovery on Wednesday that left sentiment tentative.
- Gains were broad across banks, energy, cement, fertiliser, autos, power and refineries, with heavyweights such as HUBCO, OGDC, PPL, POL, Mari and major banks advancing.
- Analysts cautioned that political uncertainty around the 27th Constitutional Amendment, recent terror attacks and continued foreign outflows seen on Wednesday keep risks elevated.