PSX Closes Flat After Volatile Session; Cement Sector Surges on Positive News

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a highly volatile day of trading on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index ultimately closing nearly flat, registering a marginal decline.

The Index finished the day at 169,451.86, a decrease of just 4.52 points, or 0.00%. This virtually unchanged close belied a session marked by significant intraday swings, driven by a surge past the key 170,000 psychological level in the morning, followed by profit-taking later in the day.Rollercoaster Ride for the KSE-100

The KSE-100 Index started the day on a strong positive note, soaring past the 170,000 mark to hit an intraday high of 170,697.74. This early rally was largely attributed to positive investor sentiment following the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) fresh approval for Pakistan’s next loan tranche disbursement, providing clarity and confidence on the economic front.

However, the momentum proved unsustainable, with the index retreating from its high as profit-taking activity took hold, pushing it to a low of 169,239.23 before settling near its previous close.Cement Powers Ahead, Fertilizer Drags Down

Sector-wise performance was highly polarized, with the Cement sector emerging as the clear leader for the day, contributing significantly to the index’s support. This was mainly driven by aggressive buying in key scrips:

• Top Contributors (Positive Points): Cement stocks like Maple Leaf Cement (MLCF) and Lucky Cement (LUCK), alongside Fauji Cement Company Limited (FCCL), were the primary positive drivers.
• Major Draggers (Negative Points): The Fertilizer sector weighed heavily on the index, with companies like Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) being the top laggard. Other sectors facing selling pressure included Oil & Gas Exploration and Technology & Communication.

Market Activity and Turnover

Despite the flat close, market volumes remained high, indicating robust investor participation:

Top by Volume: HUMNL, BML, and TPLP led the charts in terms of trading volume. TPL Properties (TPLP) notably closed up nearly 10%.

The market’s resilience, despite facing headwinds from specific sectors, points to underlying confidence in economic policy direction, particularly as the calendar year-to-date change for the KSE-100 stands at a robust +47.19%.