KARACHI:
The Pakistan Stock Exchange recorded a positive session on Friday as the KSE‑100 index rose nearly 2,240 points, driven by renewed optimism over progress in US‑Iran negotiations and easing global oil prices.
Broad‑based buying was evident throughout the day, extending the strong performance from the shortened trading week. The benchmark index gained 3.5% week‑on‑week, closing near the psychological 175,000 level.
Investor sentiment improved markedly following encouraging developments in the ongoing US‑Iran talks, including a preliminary agreement to extend the ceasefire by 60 days to allow further discussions on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
At the close, the KSE‑100 posted a gain of 2,237.52 points, or 1.30%, finishing at 173,962.82.
“The market opened on a strong footing as investor sentiment improved amid encouraging progress in ongoing US‑Iran negotiations and declining international oil prices,” said Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd (AHL). “Broad‑based buying emerged after positive developments during the Eid holidays, with expectations of a diplomatic breakthrough sustaining market optimism.”
AHL noted that the shortened trading week delivered strong gains as the KSE‑100 rose 3.5% week‑on‑week, closing near the 175k target at 173,962.8. On Friday, 80 shares advanced while 19 declined, with notable contributions from FFC (+4.02%), Engro Holdings (+3.28%) and Lucky Cement (+3.81%).
FFC signed a $1.1 billion front‑end engineering design agreement with China’s Hualu Engineering for a coal‑run fertiliser project under the China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 2.0. Additionally, the United States and Iran reached a preliminary ceasefire extension for 60 days to discuss the future of Tehran’s nuclear programme.
With support for the index projected to reach the 170k level in the coming week, the KSE‑100 appears well positioned to challenge the January highs, AHL added.
Topline Securities, in its market review, observed a positive session after Eid as the KSE‑100 rose 1.3% to close at 173,963. “This positivity stems from optimism that the US and Iran are close to finalising a peace deal,” it said.
The top contributors to the index were FFC, Engro Holdings, Lucky Cement, Engro Fertilisers, Bank AL Habib and HBL, which together added 1,484 points. By value, FFC (Rs3.73 billion), DG Khan Cement (Rs2.34 billion), TRG (Rs2.3 billion), Lucky Cement (Rs1.83 billion), NBP (Rs1.75 billion) and Maple Leaf Cement (Rs1.74 billion) dominated trading activity, Topline reported.
The KSE‑100 gained 6.7% month‑on‑month. “This positivity reflects the ceasefire between the US and Iran, where both sides exercised restraint and made progress in peace talks, boosting investor sentiment,” it noted.
Major developments in the past month included Pakistan’s Consumer Price Index for April 2026 at 10.9% versus 7.3% the previous month, the State Bank receiving a $1.3 billion tranche under the Extended Fund Facility and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility from the IMF, car sales reaching 22,015 units in April (up 107% YoY and 42% MoM), monthly remittances hitting $3.5 billion (up 11% YoY but down 8% MoM), and the current account deficit at $324 million in April 2026 compared with a surplus of $1.134 billion in March.
Overall trading volume at the PSX was 555.06 million shares, versus 506.36 million in the prior session. The value of shares traded was Rs40.88 billion.
Of the 490 companies traded, 298 closed higher, 161 fell, and 31 remained unchanged.
TRG Pakistan was the volume leader with 34.19 million shares traded, gaining Rs5.97 to close at Rs69.17. The Bank of Punjab followed with 23.89 million shares, gaining Rs0.06 to close at Rs34.59, and WorldCall Telecom traded 22.88 million shares, losing Rs0.01 to close at Rs1.29.
Foreign investors sold shares worth Rs433.6 million, the National Clearing Company reported.
