Overview
- The benchmark KSE-100 jumped 3,373 points, or 1.88%, to a record close of 182,408 after touching an all-time intraday high near 183,964.
- Trading was heavy with 1.38 billion shares changing hands worth Rs78 billion, as 256 of 483 traded companies advanced.
- Market participants cited asset-allocation flows and prospects of a rate cut later this month, with sentiment supported by December CPI at 5.6% and a modest rise in SBP reserves to about $15.9 billion.
- Banks and industrials led gains, with United Bank, Habib Bank, Engro Holdings, MCB Bank, Engro Fertiliser and Fauji Fertiliser contributing a combined 1,853 points.
- Research houses projected further upside, with AKD Research seeing potential for the index to approach 263,800 by December 2026 after the benchmark added roughly 7,000 points in the first three sessions of the year.