KSE-100 closes above 180,500 as refinery upgrade plans and energy-sector buying support sentiment, while profit-taking limits broader gains.
KARACHI, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended higher as strong buying in refinery and other energy stocks helped the benchmark KSE-100 index gain 397.83 points, or 0.22%, to close at 180,502.45.
The benchmark remained largely in positive territory during the session, reaching an intraday high of 181,158.87 and falling as low as 180,281.75 as investors balanced energy-sector optimism against profit-taking in selected heavyweight stocks.
Refineries emerged as one of the session’s key themes after renewed attention on Pakistan’s refinery modernisation programme. Five domestic refineries are expected to undertake investments estimated at $4.5 billion to $5 billion in projects involving cleaner fuels, capacity expansion and upgrades aimed at improving refinery output.
The development triggered buying interest in major refinery shares, including Pakistan Refinery, Attock Refinery, National Refinery and Cnergyico.
Energy stocks received additional support from stronger international crude oil prices as investors monitored developments in the Middle East and their potential implications for global supplies. However, the absence of significant supply disruptions limited the broader rise in oil prices.
Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Attock Refinery, Cnergyico and Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) collectively contributed about 723 points to the benchmark index, according to market commentary cited in the original report.
Those gains were partially offset by declines in Habib Bank, Fauji Fertiliser, Systems Limited, Lucky Cement and Habib Metropolitan Bank, which collectively pulled approximately 403 points from the index amid selective profit-taking.
Corporate earnings also remained on investors’ radar. Service Long March Tyres reported FY2026 earnings per share of Rs1.83, up 30% year-on-year from Rs1.40, and announced a cash dividend of Rs0.83 per share.
Trading activity remained strong. Overall market volume increased to approximately 1.05 billion shares, compared with 891.3 million shares in the previous reported session, while the value of shares traded reached Rs48.3 billion.
In the ready market, shares of 498 companies changed hands. Of these, 197 closed higher, 276 declined and 25 finished unchanged.
Cnergyico was the day’s volume leader, with approximately 312.5 million shares traded. Its stock gained Rs1.33 to close at Rs15.01.
Foreign investors, meanwhile, were net sellers of shares worth approximately Rs521.6 million, according to National Clearing Company data cited in the report.
The KSE-100’s ability to remain above the psychologically important 180,000-point level may continue to support sentiment. However, analysts cautioned that after the market’s recent gains, profit-taking and uncertainty surrounding regional developments could contribute to short-term volatility.
Investors are expected to continue monitoring refinery-sector developments, corporate earnings, international oil prices and broader macroeconomic indicators for the market’s next direction.
