Overview
- The KSE-100 staged a strong four-session advance and climbed about 3,366 points to roughly 175,380 on Thursday as falling oil prices and improved global risk appetite supported broad buying.
- Trading activity surged on Thursday with nearly 1 billion shares changing hands and a traded value around Rs46 billion, while large-cap banks, cement and oil names such as UBL, LUCK, MEBL, SYS and ENGROH supplied most of the gains.
- Official clearing data showed foreign investors sold about Rs1.2 billion on the rally day, signaling split participation even as domestic volumes and market capitalisation expanded.
- Selling intensified on Friday, taking the index down about 1,493 points to close near 173,887 after steep losses in Asian tech stocks and heightened US market volatility increased risk aversion.
- The swings highlight rising sensitivity to external shocks for Pakistani markets given modest SBP reserves and higher external debt, and they leave traders watching oil prices, foreign flows and technical supports around 170,000 for the next trading sessions.