KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed volatile trading on Thursday with the benchmark KSE-100 index recording gains of nearly 80 points in line with global equity markets, which showed mixed trends.
Upbeat investor sentiment stemmed from the technology sector, where Systems Limited closed 4.96% higher. As a result, stocks in the IT sector attracted investor interest.
Benchmark KSE-100 oscillated in both directions whereas volumes depreciated from the last close.
The auto sector remained under pressure due to dismal car sales data for the month of September — which showed a decline of 7% month-on-month.
On the results front, Engro Powergen Qadirpur Limited (EPQL) announced its third-quarter earnings per share and dividend per share of Rs3 each where the stock closed at the upper cap.
The benchmark KSE-100 index closed at 42,085.72 points with an increase of 78.58 points or 0.19%.
A report from Arif Habib Limited noted that another range-bound session was witnessed at the PSX today.
“Despite opening in the green zone the benchmark KSE-100 index recorded a lacklustre session as investor participation remained low, which caused the volumes to decline sharply,” the brokerage house stated.
The market fluctuated in both directions but ended up in the green as the IT sector remained in the limelight.
Sectors contributing to the performance included technology (77.1 points), exploration and production (15.5 points), refinery (8.1 points), chemical (8 points), and fertiliser (6.6 points).
Shares of 341 companies were traded during the session. At the close of trading, 158 scrips closed in the green, 161 in the red, and 22 remained unchanged.
Overall trading volumes rose to 222.22 million shares compared with Wednesday’s tally of 238.65 million. The value of shares traded during the day was Rs9.66 billion.
Worldcall Telecom was the volume leader with 50.64 million shares traded, gaining Rs0.01 to close at Rs1.52. It was followed by TRG Pakistan with 23.19 million shares traded, losing Rs1.11 to close at Rs128.47 and Pakistan Refinery with 9.60 million shares gaining Rs0.16 to close at Rs17.98.
In the international exchange market, the US dollar has continued to weaken in relation to the Pakistani rupee.
The dollar fell to Rs278.10 from Rs278.17 at the beginning of interbank trading, according to currency dealers, a seven paisa loss.
In the meantime, there was a lot of turbulence in the stock market, but it recovered and moved into the positive zone. The KSE-100 index recovered momentum and reached 116,000 points after soaring 1,300 points.
Both currency and stock market swings, according to analysts, are a reflection of ongoing market adjustments and economic uncertainty.
The cornerstone of economic cooperation between the two brothers and all-weather friends is still the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the initiative’s flagship project.
In contrast to reports of a slowdown, recent events indicate a renewed vigour and strategic emphasis on pushing the second phase of CPEC, known as CPEC Phase-2, according to the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives.
According to the statement, this crucial stage seeks to reshape the foundation of bilateral ties via increased cooperation, cutting-edge technology transfer, and revolutionary socioeconomic initiatives.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal is leading Pakistan’s participation in a number of high-profile gatherings in China, such as the 3rd Forum on China-Indian Ocean Region Development Cooperation in Kunming and the High-Level Seminar on CPEC-2 in Beijing.
His involvement demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to reviving CPEC, resolving outstanding concerns, and developing a strong phase-2 roadmap that considers both countries’ long-term prosperity.
At the core of these interactions is China’s steadfast determination to turn CPEC into a strategic alliance that promotes development, progress, and connectivity.
Instead of being marginalised, CPEC is developing into a multifaceted framework with five main thematic corridors: the Opening-Up/Regional Connectivity Corridor, the Innovation Corridor, the Green Corridor, the Growth Corridor, and the Livelihood-Enhancing Corridor.
With the help of projects like these, the two countries will fortify their partnership, and CPEC phase-2 will become a model of global economic integration and collaboration that benefits not just China and Pakistan but the entire region.
On December 2, core inflation as determined by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) significantly slowed, falling to 4.9% in November 2024 from 7.2 percent in October 2024.
The CPI-based inflation rate for the same month last year (November 2023) was 29.2%, according to PBS data.
Compared to a 1.2% gain in the prior month, it increased by 0.5% month over month in November 2024.