Stocks Surge as KSE100 Index Hits Record High in Steady Climb

Karachi: The Karachi Stock Exchange witnessed a surge in activity as the KSE100 index reached a record high on Tuesday, closing at 152,665.72 points. This marks a 0.30% increase from the previous day’s close, with a significant year-to-date climb of 32.61% in calendar year 2025.

Market participants noted the robust performance in key sectors, with the KSE30 index also showing an upward trend, ending the day at 46,499.67 points, a rise of 0.31%. The session was marked by considerable trading volume, with 954.33 million shares exchanging hands, translating to a total value of Rs. 46.05 billion.

Among the leading gainers, National Refinery Limited (NRL) saw its share price rise by 9.00%, closing at Rs. 340.83. The Bank of Punjab (BOP) and Askari Bank Limited (AKBL) also posted gains, with their shares climbing 5.70% and 4.34%, respectively.

Conversely, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Limited (SCBPL) emerged as one of the top losers, with its shares declining by 3.36% to Rs. 72.96. EFU General Insurance Limited (EFUG) and Nishat Chunian Power Limited (NCPL) also experienced declines of 3.08% and 2.52%, respectively.

The market capitalization of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) increased slightly by 0.11%, reaching Rs. 17,982.61 billion, equivalent to US$ 63.84 billion. This represents a year-to-date increase of 24.05%.

Regional markets showed mixed results, with Korea’s KOSPI index rising by 0.5%, while China’s SSEA fell by 1.3%. India’s BSESN and Taiwan’s TWII indices also recorded modest gains.

Overall, the day was marked by positive sentiment among investors, driven by strong performances in key stocks and sectors. The record high of the KSE100 index underscores the resilience and continued growth of the Pakistani equity market.