Karachi, Pakistan – Web Desk:Pakistan’s stock market surged sharply on Wednesday, reflecting strong investor confidence after a conditional ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States eased fears of a wider Middle East conflict.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a massive rally, with the benchmark KSE-100 index soaring by 12,920 points during early trading to reach 164,594 points. The sharp rise prompted authorities to temporarily suspend trading for one hour after the KSE-30 index climbed more than 5%.
Trading resumed later in the session, with the bullish momentum continuing. The KSE-100 index remained elevated, gaining over 12,700 points and stabilizing around 164,404 points.
Market analysts attributed the surge to improved global sentiment following the announcement of a two-week conditional ceasefire between Iran and the United States. The development significantly reduced concerns over a broader regional war, which had previously shaken global financial markets.
Global oil prices also declined sharply in response to the easing tensions. Brent crude fell by approximately 15.9% to around $92.30 per barrel, while US crude dropped by about 16.5% to $93.80 per barrel. However, analysts noted that prices remain higher than pre-conflict levels, when oil traded near $70 per barrel in late February.
The ceasefire also triggered a strong rally across Asia-Pacific markets. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose by around 4.5%, while South Korea’s Kospi index surged approximately 5.5%, signaling widespread investor optimism.
The Middle East conflict had earlier disrupted energy supply chains, particularly amid threats to shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit chokepoint. The latest diplomatic breakthrough has temporarily stabilized markets, though uncertainty remains.
