Web Desk The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) maintained its bullish momentum on Thursday as investors continued aggressive buying in energy, fertiliser and blue-chip stocks, helping both major indices close firmly in positive territory.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index gained 887.19 points, or 0.49 percent, to settle at 181,398.22 points, while the Shariah-compliant KMI-30 Index surged 1,632.68 points, ending the day at 258,982.79 points.
The strong performance comes as investor confidence remains high amid improving economic indicators, expectations of stronger corporate earnings and optimism surrounding Pakistan’s broader economic outlook.
Bulls Dominate Trading Session
From the opening bell, buyers remained in control of the market.
The KSE-100 started the day at 181,087 points and quickly moved into positive territory. Throughout the session, sustained buying pushed the index to an intraday high of 181,869 points before it finally settled at 181,398 points.
Meanwhile, the KMI-30 index showed even stronger momentum. The Islamic index climbed from an opening level of 258,029 points to an intraday high of 259,827 points before ending the session just below the day’s peak.
Market participants described Thursday’s trading as another sign that investors remain willing to increase exposure to fundamentally strong companies despite periodic profit-taking in selected counters.
HUBC Emerges as Market Hero
Among all listed companies, Hub Power Company (HUBC) stood out as the biggest contributor to market gains.
In the KSE-100 Index, HUBC added more than 241 points, making it the single largest positive contributor of the session. The stock continued attracting investor interest amid expectations of stable earnings and improving sector prospects.
Other major gainers supporting the benchmark index included:
- Service Industries (SRVI)
- Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC)
- Engro Holdings (ENGROH)
- Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL)
Within the KMI-30 Index, HUBC played an even larger role by contributing nearly 694 points to the overall increase.
Analysts said strong buying in power generation, fertilizer and energy companies remained the key driver behind the day’s rally.
Fertilizer and Energy Stocks Remain Investor Favorites
A noticeable trend in recent weeks has been the growing demand for fertilizer and energy sector stocks.
Companies such as FFC, ENGROH, PPL and OGDC continued to attract fresh investment due to their strong fundamentals, stable profitability and strategic importance within Pakistan’s economy.
Market experts noted that investors are increasingly focusing on companies with strong balance sheets and consistent dividend histories as they position themselves for the coming earnings season.
The latest session reflected that trend, with most heavyweight contributors coming from sectors considered defensive and financially stable.
Profit-Taking Limits Further Gains
Despite the overall positive tone, not all stocks participated in the rally.
Several major companies witnessed profit-taking as investors booked gains accumulated during recent sessions.
Among the largest draggers on the KSE-100 Index were:
- BAHL
- MARI
- PSO
- MTL
- PSX
Similarly, the KMI-30 Index faced pressure from:
- MARI
- PSO
- FCCL
- SYS
- SNGP
However, the selling pressure remained limited and failed to reverse the broader bullish trend dominating the market.
Analysts viewed the decline in these stocks as a normal market correction rather than a sign of weakening investor confidence.
Trading Activity Remains Strong
Another encouraging signal for investors was the healthy level of market participation.
The KSE-100 constituent volume reached approximately 445.72 million shares, while the KMI-30 constituent volume stood at 206.69 million shares.
Strong trading volumes are generally viewed as confirmation of investor confidence because they indicate active participation from both institutional and retail investors.
Market observers noted that liquidity remains strong across multiple sectors, suggesting the rally is not being driven by a small number of stocks alone.
KMI-30 Posts Impressive Fiscal Year Performance
One of the most impressive statistics from Thursday’s market wrap was the fiscal-year performance of the KMI-30 Index.
The Islamic benchmark has now delivered a remarkable 40.08 percent return during the current fiscal year, highlighting the strong performance of Pakistan’s leading Shariah-compliant companies.
Its calendar-year return stands at 4.20 percent, reflecting continued resilience despite fluctuations in global markets and regional economic uncertainties.
The performance has attracted increasing interest from investors seeking exposure to Islamic equities and long-term growth opportunities.
Why Investors Remain Optimistic
Several factors continue supporting positive sentiment at the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
Investors are closely monitoring:
- Economic stabilization measures
- Inflation trends
- Corporate profitability
- Foreign investment prospects
- Fiscal policy developments
- Exchange rate stability
Recent improvements in macroeconomic indicators have strengthened expectations that corporate earnings could remain robust during the coming quarters.
As a result, many investors continue to increase their allocations to equities, particularly in sectors expected to benefit from economic expansion and infrastructure growth.
Market Outlook
Looking ahead, analysts expect the market to remain largely positive, although short-term volatility cannot be ruled out.
Attention is likely to remain focused on corporate earnings announcements, economic reforms, budget implementation measures and developments in global commodity markets.
For now, however, the bulls appear firmly in control.
Thursday’s session reinforced the view that investor confidence remains strong, with buying interest continuing to emerge whenever temporary market weakness appears. If current economic trends remain supportive, market participants believe the PSX could continue testing higher levels in the sessions ahead.
The latest rally also demonstrates that Pakistan’s equity market remains one of the most closely watched indicators of investor sentiment, with both domestic and institutional investors showing renewed confidence in the country’s economic direction.
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