KSE-100 Index Closes Flat at 156,178, Down 3 Points

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened on a positive note but closed largely unchanged, as the KSE-100 Index settled at 156,178 points, marking a marginal decline of 3 points. During the session, the benchmark index touched an intraday high of 157,197 and a low of 155,960.

Market Activity:

• Total traded volume: 366.5 million shares
• Total traded value: ~PKR 28 billion

Key Contributors to Decline:

• HUBC (-1.3%, -79 points)
• MEBL (-1.0%, -63 points)
• PPL (-1.3%, -58 points)
• OGDC (-0.7%, -39 points)
• UBL (-0.4%, -38 points)

Volume Leaders:

• BOP – 84.1 million shares
• CNERGY – 54.3 million shares

Sectoral Performance:

• Pressure observed: OMCs, Exploration & Production (E&Ps), and Power
• Mixed trend: Banks and Cement
• Buying interest: Refinery and Technology

Despite briefly crossing the 157,000 mark, profit-taking at higher levels capped gains. Looking ahead, the market is expected to witness some volatility; however, the broader bullish sentiment remains intact. Investors are advised to focus on fundamentally strong sectors such as E&Ps, OMCs, Fertilizers, and Banks, which continue to offer attractive dividend yields and sustainable growth potential.