PSX hits 157,000 high, up 8.6k points in a day

April 01, 2026 (MLN):The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a powerful rally on Wednesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index posting substantial gains amid strong investor confidence, improved global sentiment, and aggressive buying across key sectors.

The KSE-100 Index closed at 155,511.56, registering a sharp increase of 6,768.25 points or 4.55%.

The index remained firmly in the green throughout the session, hitting an intraday high of 157,347.17 (+8,603.86) and a low of 151,262.76 (+2,519.45). Total traded volume stood at 420.21 million shares, reflecting heightened market activity.

In a notable development during the session, trading at the PSX was halted for nearly an hour after both the KSE-30 and KSE-100 indices surged more than 5%, triggering an automatic market halt in line with PSX regulations a rare occurrence that emphasized the intensity of the rally.

Market breadth remained overwhelmingly positive, with 92 companies closing higher, 7 declining, and 1 remaining unchanged.

Among the top gainers were NML (+9.99%), AICL (+9.85%), FCCL (+9.84%), ILP (+9.20%), and LUCK (+9.17%), while FHAM (-8.23%), PGLC (-1.40%), UPFL (-0.76%), APL (-0.28%), and NESTLE (-0.20%) were among the few laggards.

In terms of index-point contribution, the rally was led by UBL (+635.88pts), LUCK (+494.21pts), FFC (+412.00pts), HBL (+397.44pts), and MEBL (+388.76pts). On the downside, FHAM (-7.93pts) and UPFL (-3.00pts) exerted minimal pressure.

Sector-wise, gains were broad-based, led by Commercial Banks (+2669.98pts), Cement (+978.38pts), Fertilizer (+632.52pts), Oil & Gas Exploration Companies (+604.04pts), and Technology & Communication (+290.44pts), highlighting strong participation across major segments of the market.

In the broader market, the All-Share Index closed at 92,721.58, up 3,646.62 points or 4.09%.

Overall market activity surged, with total volume rising to 670.87 million shares from 434.96 million in the previous session, while traded value jumped to Rs43.98 billion, increasing by Rs21.44 billion. A total of 381,081 trades were recorded across 485 companies, with 365 closing higher, 67 declining, and 53 remaining unchanged.

The strong rally was largely attributed to improving global sentiment and easing geopolitical concerns, which boosted risk appetite. Investor confidence was further supported by expectations of de-escalation in Middle East tensions following recent statements by President Donald Trump regarding a potential withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iran.

Additionally, the recent decline in global oil prices helped ease concerns over inflation and external account pressures, encouraging investors to re-enter the market aggressively.

The session reflects a sharp turnaround in sentiment, with investors capitalizing on improved global cues and value opportunities, driving the index to one of its strongest single-day gains in recent sessions.

To note, the KSE-100 has gained 29,884 points or 23.79% during the fiscal year, whereas it has decreased 18,543 points or 10.65% so far this calendar year.

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