PSX trades mixed as KSE-100 stays near 166,000 in midday session

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw a mixed session by midday on Thursday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index moving around the 165,700 to 166,800 range after opening close to its previous finish of 165,811 points.

According to the latest available market data, the index was at about 165,736 points by midday, down roughly 74 points, or 0.04%, from the previous close. The session reflected early volatility before the market steadied near the 166,000 level.

The index touched an intraday high of 161,993 and a low of 166,812.93. Despite the swings in early trade, the market later hovered in a relatively narrow band around its previous closing level.

Trading activity remains strong

Market activity stayed firm during the session, with total traded volume exceeding 572 million shares. The value of those trades crossed Rs33.95 billion in nearly 289,000 transactions, indicating continued investor participation even as the benchmark index showed only a marginal change.

Overall market breadth remained on the weaker side. Out of 565 active scrips, 301 declined, 168 advanced and 96 were unchanged, showing that a larger number of stocks were under pressure even though selective buying continued in some sectors.

Sector-wise movement

Fertiliser and banking shares, which had led the previous day’s sharp rally after easing tensions in the Middle East, witnessed some profit-taking on Thursday. At the same time, buying interest persisted in selected cement, energy and textile stocks.

Among the notable gainers were textile-related names, including Service Industries Textile, which was up more than 2.8%, and Shadman Cotton. Some blue-chip stocks, however, came under mild selling pressure during the session.

The midday performance suggested a consolidation phase after the previous rally, with investors appearing to lock in gains in sectors that had risen sharply a day earlier while shifting attention to selected counters in other segments of the market.

By midday, the market remained active, but the benchmark index was little changed overall, reflecting a cautious tone amid sector rotation and profit-booking in some of the stocks that had driven the previous session’s gains.