The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) surged past the 140,000 level for the first time ever on Friday, as bullish momentum dominated the market. Driven by strong institutional investments and high investor confidence, the KSE-100 index climbed 1,336.68 points during intraday trading. This marked a gain of 0.96 percent, pushing the index to a record high of 140,002.17 points, signaling a wave of positive market sentiment.
Just a day earlier, the PSX had already shown remarkable growth with the KSE-100 gaining 2,285.53 points. Thursday’s close stood at 138,665.50 points, reflecting a 1.68 percent increase and highlighting continued investor enthusiasm. The back-to-back rallies have been supported by solid corporate performance and favorable macroeconomic indicators, which have encouraged fresh inflows.
In total, 780 million shares worth Rs 39.97 billion changed hands during the trading session. Activity remained widespread as 486 companies took part, with 306 posting gains, 154 facing losses, and 26 remaining unchanged. This broad-based participation reflects the depth of investor interest and confidence across multiple sectors.
Among the most actively traded stocks, Pak International Bulk led the charts with 82.66 million shares at Rs 10.09 each. It was followed by First Dawood Properties, trading 42.47 million shares at Rs 7.00, and Ghani Chemworld, with 26.02 million shares at Rs 13.21. These companies attracted significant attention from retail and institutional investors alike.
Meanwhile, global markets also painted a positive picture as Asian shares tracked Wall Street’s upward trend. U.S. retail sales and jobless claims surpassed expectations, suggesting the economy remains stable despite concerns over tariffs. This gave investors hope that the Federal Reserve may delay interest rate hikes.
Elsewhere, the MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan rose by 0.8%, reaching its highest level since 2021. On the corporate front, Netflix exceeded earnings forecasts, benefiting from a weaker U.S. dollar. Despite this, its stock dipped slightly in after-hours trading, indicating that the market had already priced in its gains.