PSX Closing Bell: A Day in the Green

March 17, 2026 (MLN): The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a modest recovery on Tuesday as selective buying in key sectors helped the benchmark KSE-100 Index close in positive territory, following recent volatility driven by global and geopolitical concerns.

The KSE-100 Index settled at 150,016.16, registering a gain of 837.50 points or 0.56%.

The index traded within a range of 2,994.42 points, hitting an intraday high of 151,503.46 (+2,324.80) and a low of 148,509.04 (-669.62). The total volume of the KSE-100 Index stood at 145.54 million shares.

Market breadth remained positive, with 57 companies closing higher, 39 declining, three unchanged, and one untraded.

Among the top gainers were HGFA (+6.13%), JVDC (+4.64%), MCB (+4.47%), TPLRF1 (+3.14%), and PIBTL (+2.67%), while MEHT (-5.31%), PGLC (-4.76%), GAL (-4.13%), DGKC (-3.14%), and BOP (-2.90%) led the losers.

In terms of index-point contributions, MCB (+221.07pts), UBL (+192.17pts), HUBC (+138.41pts), PPL (+99.38pts), and ENGROH (+87.40pts) supported the index. On the flip side, HBL (-111.91pts), NBP (-59.93pts), DGKC (-36.66pts), BOP (-36.57pts), and FCCL (-21.24pts) weighed on performance.

Sector-wise, the index was supported by Commercial Banks (+255.27pts), Oil & Gas Exploration Companies (+152.12pts), Power Generation & Distribution (+152.06pts), Investment Banks / Investment Companies / Securities Companies (+85.25pts), and Oil & Gas Marketing Companies (+76.01pts).

Meanwhile, pressure was seen in Textile Composite (-28.97pts), Insurance (-17.42pts), Fertilizer (-14.90pts), Refinery (-14.64pts), and Cable & Electrical Goods (-9.08pts).

In the broader market, the All-Share Index closed at 90,164.34, up 410.34 points or 0.46%.

Total market volume stood at 260.43 million shares, down from 298.27 million in the previous session, while traded value was recorded at Rs17.21 billion, decreasing by Rs2.98 billion. A total of 210,308 trades were reported across 475 companies, with 223 closing higher, 182 declining, and 70 remaining unchanged.

Despite the recovery, investor sentiment remained cautious amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and volatility in global oil markets.

To note, the KSE-100 has gained 24,389 points or 19.41% during the fiscal year, whereas it has decreased 24,038 points or 13.81% so far this calendar year.

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