The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) surged to a fresh all-time high on Tuesday, with market participants showing positive sentiments following the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) approval for a $1.2 billion loan for Pakistan.

The benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at an all-time high of 169,456.38 points, up 1,153.14 points, or 0.69%, from the previous close of 168,303.24. The index climbed to an intraday high of 169,601.03, gaining 1,297.79 points.

The market rally strengthened further following the IMF’s approval of nearly $1.2 billion under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and an additional $220 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).

The move has kept the combined $8.4 billion programme on track and significantly lifted investor confidence.

The surge was largely fuelled by strong and consistent buying from local mutual funds, which helped sustain positive momentum throughout the session. Major index contributors collectively added around 640 points to the benchmark’s gains.

Trading activity also remained robust. Total volumes crossed 1.02 billion shares, while overall turnover rose to Rs51.1 billion. K-Electric (KEL) dominated the session as the volume leader with 86.7 million shares traded.

With solid liquidity, improving macro indicators, and renewed confidence, the record close reinforces the bullish trend steering the market forward.

The IMF will release $1bn under the EFF and $200 million under the RSF, bringing total disbursements under both programmes to $3.3 bn.

“Today, the Executive Board of the IMF completed the second review of Pakistan’s economic reform program supported by the EFF and the first review of Pakistan’s program supported by the RSF,” the IMF said in a statement.

This decision, it said, allows for an immediate disbursement of around $1 billion under the EFF and around $200 million under the RSF, bringing total disbursements under the two arrangements to about $3.3 billion

The IMF has described the implementation of the ongoing loan programmes as “strong” and has assured the government of continued support for its economic reforms. The release of $1.2bn is expected to further bolster Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.

As office party season reaches its peak and Christmas jumpers across the country are dusted off for their annual outing, it’s time to get gifts for the team sorted. Whether you own or run a business, showing those you’ve worked with this year that you appreciate them has never been easier thanks to Amazon Business. With quantity discounts, deals and promotions available over a wide range of categories, finding the perfect thank you is only a few clicks away. Keep reading for ideas on what to buy your employees and clients this Christmas.

Shop for Christmas gifts at Amazon Business now

Food and drink

Nothing says Christmas has arrived quite like eating, drinking and being merry. From indulgent cheese and wine sets to classic single malts from Scotland’s finest distilleries, there are hundreds of beautiful options to choose from if you want to give a touch of decadence this festive season.

Tech and gadgets

For the more tech-savvy amongst your team, why not give the gift of a gadget? From Kindles to smart watches, headphones to speakers, Amazon Business is your one-stop shop for electronics.

Wellness and self-care

After a year of hard work, Christmas is the perfect time to focus on self-care. Give your team a head start on the January wellbeing drive with a pampering gift that’s just for them. You can’t go wrong with an essential oils bath set, or a luxurious men’s wash set with a stylish washbag to boot.

Shop for Christmas gifts at Amazon Business now

Home and kitchen

Score a home run with your Christmas gifting with useful gadgets for the kitchen and round the house. From savvy robotic vacuum cleaners to chic electric corkscrews, Amazon Business has everything you could possibly need to make life at home a little easier.

Toys and games

Discover gifts that keep on giving with brilliant family games that will bring joy for years to come. With great prices on original games like Herd Mentality, Gullible and Six Second Scribbles, Amazon Business shows that corporate gifting doesn’t have to be stuffy and serious.

Sports and outdoor

For outdoorsy types, there’s no limit to how creative you can get with gifting. These hand warmers make a perfect Secret Santa gift for early morning runners, whilst this stylish flask is a great companion for keen hikers.

Gift cards and vouchers

Stumped on what to get for your clients this Christmas? You cannot go wrong with a gift card. Simply select your chosen amount and enter the email address of the lucky recipient. With inboxes overflowing in the lead up to the Christmas break, this is one email they’ll be very happy to receive.

Shop Gift Cards

Buy more, save more

Christmas can be an expensive time of year for business owners, but with some savvy shopping you can avoid accruing a receipt longer than Santa’s list. Unlock quantity discounts from just two units with Amazon Business, so you can get your gifting sorted while enjoying savings with business-exclusive pricing.

Find out more about Quantity Discounts

Shop for Christmas gifts at Amazon Business now

Get access to business-exclusive discounts today

Sign in to your Business Account to access business benefits and special pricing. Don’t have an Amazon Business account yet? Don’t worry. All you’ll need is to create a free account, which you can create in a few simple steps:

Visit business.amazon.co.uk to get your Christmas gifts sorted today.