KSE-100 Surges Past 148,000 Mark with 1,705-Point Rally

Azee News | August 18, 2025

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a bullish session on Monday as the KSE-100 Index closed at 148,196, marking a strong gain of 1,705 points.

The index touched an intraday high of 148,396 and a low of 146,404, before settling at record levels. While the rally lifted market sentiment, overall trading activity remained relatively moderate with 228.2 million shares traded, valuing at PKR 27.7 billion.

Key index drivers included:

·        Meezan Bank (MEBL) up 4.2%, contributing 251 points

·        Lucky Cement (LUCK) up 4.2%, contributing 246 points

·        Bank Al Habib (BAHL) up 3.9%, contributing 185 points

·        United Bank (UBL) up 0.9%, contributing 99 points

·        Pakistan Petroleum (PPL) up 2.3%, contributing 91 points

On the volumes board, Bank of Punjab (BOP) led with 20 million shares, followed by Maple Leaf Cement (MLCF) with 14.5 million shares.

Sector-wise, Exploration & Production (E&Ps), Cement, Fertilizers, and Banking stocks dominated investor interest, while OMCs and Technology saw mixed sentiment.

The market’s ability to close above the 148,000 milestone for the first time ever reflects improving momentum. Looking ahead, analysts expect near-term volatility to persist, but maintain an optimistic broader outlook, with dividend-yielding and fundamentally strong sectors such as E&Ps, Fertilizers, OMCs, and Banks offering attractive opportunities.