Summary Pakistan’s KSE-100 Index recovered from steep early losses to close 1,498 points higher at 170,672, while regional Asian markets showed a mixed performance.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – The Pakistan Stock Exchange staged a strong recovery on Friday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index ending in positive territory after witnessing sharp volatility during both trading sessions.
The market opened the final trading day of the week under heavy selling pressure, with the benchmark index plunging more than 2,500 points during early trade to touch 166,380 points, reflecting investor caution and broad-based weakness.
At the close of the first trading session, the KSE-100 Index remained under pressure, settling lower by 2,172 points at around the 167,000 level.
However, sentiment improved markedly during the second half of trading, triggering a robust rebound that erased earlier losses. Sustained buying momentum lifted the benchmark index by 1,498 points by the close of business, allowing it to settle at 170,672 points in positive territory.
Market analysts said the sharp recovery highlighted investor resilience despite intraday volatility, while bargain hunting in select sectors appeared to support the turnaround.
Trading activity remained strong, with more than 445 million shares changing hands during the session. The total value of traded shares stood at over Rs29.41 billion, reflecting continued investor participation despite fluctuations.
The positive close came a day after the market ended sharply lower. In the previous session, the KSE-100 had lost 2,405 points to settle at 169,173, making Friday’s rebound a notable recovery for the benchmark.
Meanwhile, Asian equities presented a mixed picture, mirroring cautious sentiment across regional markets.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 0.64 per cent, while Malaysia’s FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI rose 0.66 per cent.
In contrast, Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite Index fell 2.16 per cent, China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.58 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index edged down 0.20 per cent.
Analysts said mixed trends in regional markets, combined with domestic volatility, underscored continued caution among investors, though the late-session rebound at the PSX offered a positive signal heading into the new trading week.
