Overview

• The benchmark index jumped about 1,776 points, finishing at 157,953 after touching an intraday high near 158,083.
• Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in Riyadh that declares aggression against one as aggression against both, a move analysts cited as the key catalyst alongside the US Fed’s 25 bp cut and guidance for further easing.
• Turnover swelled to roughly 1.96 billion shares with traded value near Rs56.9 billion, with market breadth positive across 485 listed companies.
• Large caps led gains, with Engro Holdings, National Bank of Pakistan, Mari Petroleum, United Bank Limited, and Bank of Punjab collectively adding about 733–734 points to the index.
• Foreign investors were net sellers of around Rs919.2 million as official data showed a $245 million current-account deficit in August and the SBP earlier kept the policy rate at 11% while warning of flood-related inflation risks.