KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed cautious activity on Monday, where the market closed slightly higher ahead of the monetary policy announcement. The key policy rate, announced later in the day, was kept unchanged at 11 per cent.
The benchmark KSE-100 index closed higher by 81.79 points, or 0.07 per cent, to 122,225.36 points, up from 122,143.57 points recorded in the last session. The highest index of the day remained at 122,903.34 points, while the lowest level was recorded at 121,889.96 points.
Analyst Ahsan Mehanti at Arif Habib Corp said, “Stocks advanced despite geopolitical risk amid speculations over the SBP’s policy announcement later on Monday.”He said that trade remained high amid consolidation. Recovery in global equities, IMF-driven FY26 upbeat projections for privatisation, GDP growth and federal PSDP in the federal budget for FY26 played a catalytic role in the positive close at the PSX.
The KSE-30 index increased by 72.8 points or 0.2 per cent to 36,956.1 points from 36,883.3 points. Traded shares surged by 256 million shares to 1,224.178 million shares from 968.346 million shares. The trading value decreased to Rs25.75 billion from Rs29.558 billion. Market capital expanded to Rs14.801 trillion against Rs14.747 trillion. Of the 471 companies active in the session, 282 closed in green, 159 in red and 30 remained unchanged.
Naveed Nadeem, an analyst at Topline Securities, said the Pakistan stock market experienced a pullback session, following a recovery in global markets. The benchmark index traded within range, hitting an intraday high of 759 points and a low of 253 points, before settling at 122,225.
Positive contributions came from BAHL, OGDC, NBP, MARI, and MEBL, collectively adding 371 points to the index. On the other hand, selling in ENGROH, PKGP, and LUCK weighed on performance, subtracting a combined 255 points.
The highest increase was recorded in Macter International Limited, which rose by Rs38.61 to Rs424.71 per share, followed by Blessed Textiles Limited, which increased by Rs26.89 to Rs304.91 per share. A significant decline was noted in PIA Holding Company Limited B, which fell by Rs1,888.91 to Rs17,000.19 per share, Khyber Textile Mills Limited followed it, which closed lower by Rs179.45 to Rs1,615.1 per share.
Analyst Mubashir Anis Naviwala at JS Global said the market opened on a positive note, touching an intraday high of 122,903, but failed to sustain momentum, as profit-taking emerged later in the session.
On the economic front, the State Bank kept the policy rate unchanged at 11 per cent, aligning with expectations. Trading activity was dominated by small-cap stocks, reflecting short-term speculative interest. “We advise investors to maintain a cautious stance and avoid aggressive exposure for now,” he said. “Risk management remains key amid geopolitical uncertainty and macro developments.”
WorldCall Telecom remained the volume leader with 267.081 million shares, which closed higher by 17 paisas to Rs1.62 per share. Pervez Ahmed Co, with 92.031 million shares, followed it, which closed higher by Re1.00 to Rs3.93 per share.
Other significant turnover stocks included Ist. Capital Sec, Kohinoor Spining, Media Times Ltd, PIA Holding Company, Sui South Gas, Dewan Cement, Cnergyico PK, and K-Electric Ltd. In the futures market, 320 companies recorded trading, 188 of which increased, 130 decreased and 2 remained unchanged.