Overview
- The KSE-100 extended gains into Thursday and settled at 166,186.16 after hitting an intraday high near 166,868, with late-session profit‑taking trimming much of the morning rise.
- Buying was concentrated in refinery and energy names and a handful of heavyweights such as Engro, Lucky Cement, Fauji Fertiliser, Bank AL Habib and NBP that together supplied most of the index’s advance.
- The short recovery built on a sharp pick‑up in participation on Wednesday when turnover rose to about 585.9 million shares and advancing issues outnumbered decliners, lifting market capitalisation to roughly Rs18.39 trillion.
- Analysts warned that higher global oil prices, regional geopolitical tensions around shipping routes, US inflation and domestic political and currency pressures are keeping investor sentiment cautious and capping sustained gains.
- Market moves over the next sessions will likely be driven by oil price swings, any fresh regional security developments, and signs of stronger, broad-based buying because narrow, sector-driven flows are raising the chance of further volatility.