The benchmark KSE-100 Index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued with bullish trend on Thursday, gaining 1,392.01 points, a positive change of 0.83 percent, closing at 169,911.95 points against 168,519.94 points on the last trading day, according to PSX data.
The State Bank of Pakistan’s earlier in the day confirmed the receipt of $2 billion from Saudi Arabia and optimism over a potential resumption of US-Iran negotiations lifted investor sentiment at the bourse, pushing the index to an intra-day high of 170,899.16.
During the session, the ready market recorded a trading volume of 972.713 million shares with a traded value of Rs 43.933 billion, compared to 1,205.844 million shares valuing Rs 59.416 billion in the previous session.
The market capitalization increased to Rs 18.801 trillion from Rs 18.610 trillion a day earlier.
Out of 489 active companies in the ready market, 307 advanced, 139 declined, and 43 remained unchanged.
Unity Foods Limited topped the volume chart with 70.580 million shares, followed by K-Electric Limited with 53.102 million shares and Hascol Petroleum with 46.288 million shares. The top gainers included Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited, which increased by Rs 270.25 to close at Rs 26,498.90, and Blessed Textiles Limited, which gained Rs 123.49 to settle at Rs 1,433.27.
On the losing side, PIA Holding Company Limited B declined by Rs 244.33 to close at Rs 18,243.00, while Service Industries Limited fell by Rs 23.32 to close at Rs 1,644.45. In the futures market, turnover stood at 203.797 million shares with a traded value of Rs 10.212 billion, compared to 289.288 million shares worth Rs 14.836 billion in the previous session. Out of 311 futures-market companies, 211 recorded gains while 99 declined and 1 remained unchanged, according to PSX data.