Overview
- The KSE-100 index rose 233.55 points to finish at 166,419.72 on Friday after a narrow trading range that saw an intraday low near 165,956.51 and a high near 166,708.36.
- Total turnover fell to about 396.9 million shares from 517.6 million the prior session, reflecting muted participation and measured buying interest.
- Selective accumulation in banking and technology stocks (including Systems Limited, UBL, MCB and Bank AL Habib) supported the index while selling in oil and gas and cement names capped gains.
- Foreign investors were net sellers of roughly Rs120 million, the National Clearing Company reported, and Pakistan Refinery led volumes with about 38.42 million shares traded.
- Analysts pointed to Brent crude trading above $105–106 a barrel, US–Iran tensions and expectations of a possible State Bank policy move as the main near-term headwinds that could keep the market range-bound until earnings or fresh macro cues arrive.