The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) recovered in the final hour of trading on Wednesday, closing 779 points higher after a volatile session that saw the KSE‑100 swing between gains and losses.
Trading began positively, driving the benchmark index to an intraday peak of 166,242.43 points – a rise of 1,090.79 points. However, buying momentum faded after 1:30 pm, and the index slipped to an intraday low of 164,999.59 points.
A later rebound pushed the KSE‑100 to a close of 165,930.98, representing a 779.34‑point (0.47%) gain from the previous day’s settlement.
The rebound followed a decline on Tuesday, when the PSX extended its downtrend amid persistent selling pressure, cautious investor sentiment and concerns over macro‑economic and geopolitical factors. The index fell 814.44 points (0.49%) to close at 165,151.64.
Regionally, Asian equities edged higher, nearing the highest levels since last week’s sell‑off, supported by gains on Wall Street and early signs of robust corporate earnings. MSCI’s Asia‑Pacific ex‑Japan index rose 1.1%, led by a 3.3% gain in Korean shares, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.9%. S&P 500 e‑mini futures were up 0.2%, though renewed worries about AI‑related data‑centre operators tempered risk appetite.
Energy markets also benefited from geopolitical tensions, with oil prices climbing over $1 as Middle‑East flare‑ups sparked supply‑disruption fears and US crude and product inventories fell. Brent crude futures rose $1.61 to $110.40 per barrel, and US West Texas Intermediate crude advanced $1.45 to $99.27.
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