Positivity continued at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index climbing over 400 points in early intra-day trading. At 11:05am, the index stood at 118,981.43, marking a gain of 405.55 points or 0.34%.
The bullish sentiment followed Tuesday’s rally, where the KSE-100 Index surged nearly 1,300 points, closing at 118,575.88, fueled by a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan.
Sector-Wise Performance
Investor interest remained high in cement, commercial banks, power generation, and refinery sectors. Key index movers trading in the green included:
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HUBCO (Hub Power Company)
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NRL (National Refinery)
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MARI (Mari Petroleum)
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MEBL (Meezan Bank)
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NBP (National Bank of Pakistan)
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UBL (United Bank Limited)
IMF Talks Add to Market Optimism
Adding to the positive sentiment, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) team began discussions with Pakistani authorities today, with a focus on the upcoming 2025–26 federal budget. Key discussion areas include:
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Tax broadening measures
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Energy sector reforms
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State-owned enterprise restructuring
Investors are optimistic that successful talks with the IMF could unlock future financial support and enhance fiscal credibility.
Global Market Overview
Globally, Asian stocks edged higher, while the US dollar showed weakness after softer-than-expected US inflation data, raising hopes of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve later this year.
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MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index (excluding Japan) rose 0.9%.
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Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index also gained, buoyed by strong earnings from Jd.com.
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Focus now shifts to upcoming earnings from Tencent and Alibaba.
Meanwhile, US and European equity futures indicated a cautious retreat, reflecting ongoing market wariness despite a temporary pause in US-China trade tensions.
“As US President Donald Trump’s global trade war appears to hit pause, markets remain uncertain but less volatile,” — Analysts note.
Conclusion
With strong local buying, geopolitical improvements, and favorable global cues, the KSE-100 Index is testing new highs, bringing renewed optimism to investors. However, all eyes remain on the outcome of IMF negotiations and global macroeconomic indicators in the coming weeks.
