PSX Closed Bulls Tighten Grip as KSE-100 Nears 151,000

Karachi | August 20, 2025 —

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its bullish run on Wednesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index closing at 150,591.00 points, up 820.26 points or 0.55%. The index touched an intraday high of 151,261.67 points, reflecting strong investor sentiment, before retreating slightly at the close.

Market Performance

Investor participation remained robust as the KSE-100 Index saw volumes of 275.22 million shares, while overall market turnover stood at 667.82 million shares, though lower than Tuesday’s 809 million. Traded value clocked in at Rs40.73 billion, down by Rs7.7 billion.

Out of 486 actively traded companies, 240 advanced, 215 declined, and 31 remained unchanged, signaling broad-based buying despite sector-specific pressure.

Gainers & Losers

Heavy buying was witnessed in Standard Chartered Bank (SCBPL) and The Searle Company (SEARL), both hitting their upper circuits with 10% gains. Thal Ltd (THALL) surged 9.84%, while NATF (+5.02%) and Kohat Cement (KOHC) (+4.65%) also attracted strong interest.

On the flip side, Pak Gulf Leasing (PGLC) lost 4.41%, while GADT, PKGP, IBFL, and MEHT were among the notable laggards.

Sector Watch

The banking sector led the charge, contributing +562 points to the index, with strong performances from BAHL, NBP, and MCB. Technology (+136pts) and pharmaceuticals (+127pts) also remained key drivers.

Meanwhile, the fertilizer sector was the biggest drag, losing 180 points, as heavyweights FFC and EFERT came under selling pressure. Oil & Gas Exploration and Investment Companies also weighed down the index.

Most Active Stocks

Among the volume leaders were BOP (52.3m shares), WorldCall (WTL, 36.2m), Fauji Foods (FFL, 33.6m), and SEARL (32.1m), while Waves Corp also hit its upper limit with over 20.7m shares traded.

Market Snapshot

The broader All-Share Index closed at 92,682.88, gaining 527.10 points (0.57%). A total of 384,664 trades were executed during the session.

YTD Performance

The KSE-100 has delivered stellar returns so far:

• FY25-to-date: Up 24,964 points (+19.87%)
• CY25-to-date: Up 35,464 points (+30.80%)

The bulls remained firmly in control of the PSX as banking, tech, and pharma stocks led the rally. Fertilizers and oil names, however, capped gains as investors booked profits at higher levels.