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PSX closes volatile week at record 158,037 points | The Express Tribune
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) capped off the week with a volatile session on Friday, as the benchmark KSE-100 index whipsawed between sharp gains and losses before settling just above the 158,000 mark, its highest-ever closing level.
The index closed at 158,037 points, up 84 points, or 0.05%, after a roller-coaster ride. Morning trade remained range-bound, but the afternoon session saw heightened activity, pushing the index to an intra-day high of 159,337 points (+1,384) before sliding to a low of 157,522 (-432 points), according to Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd.
On the macroeconomic front, the current account deficit widened to $245 million in August 2025, compared to $82 million in the same month last year. For the first two months of FY26, the deficit stood at $624 million versus $430 million in the year-ago period, raising concerns over external sector pressures.
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Sector performance remained mixed. Hubco, OGDC, The Bank of Punjab, Systems Ltd, and PSO collectively added 663 points, while UBL, Engro Holdings, HBL, Fauji Fertiliser Company, and Mari Petroleum dragged the index down by 476 points on profit-taking.
Trading activity stayed robust, with over 2 billion shares worth Rs69.2 billion changing hands. Cnergyico led the volumes with 170.2 million shares, dominating the day’s turnover.
For the week, the KSE-100 surged 3,598 points, or 2.33%. The benchmark opened at 154,612 points, touched a low of 154,486, and soared to a record intraday peak of 159,337 before closing at 158,037, marking a historic weekly close above the 158,000 milestone.
Analysts said the market is now trading above its 155,000–158,000 consolidation range, and a decisive breakout could pave the way for new record highs in the coming sessions.
It is thought that thousands of people may have lost their jobs at Oracle, one of the world’s largest tech companies.
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The US-Israel Iran war has halted almost all traffic in a key waterway and the price Brent crude has surged.
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Crunch talks between resident doctors and the Government are set to continue in a bid to avert strike action.
Sir Keir Starmer has given the resident doctors committee of the British Medical Association (BMA) a deadline to reconsider a deal on pay and jobs which includes an offer of thousands of extra NHS training posts.
It is understood the proposal will be removed from the deal if resident doctors in England press ahead with a six-day strike from April 7 in a row over jobs and pay.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chairman of the resident doctors committee of the union, said: “It is wrong for Government to withhold desperately-needed jobs as part of negotiating tactics.
“Anyone who works in the NHS knows that patients need these 4,000 jobs created as soon as possible.
“We made that very clear to Government in our meetings today.
“We are not interested in arbitrary deadlines – we will be looking to get this dispute ended right up to the last minute.
“We believe there is a deal there to be done if Government is willing to withdraw the changes it made at the last minute that reduced the funding for pay rises. Talks continue.”
It comes as senior medics announced they were escalating their disputes with the Government.
Consultants and other senior doctors are to be balloted on industrial action after ministers announced they would be getting a 3.5% pay award.
Simultaneous ballots of consultants and specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors will run from May 11 until July 6.
Addressing resident doctors, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote in The Times: “The truth is this: no-one benefits from rejecting this deal.
“Resident doctors will be worse off. Instead of improved pay, progression and support, they will receive the standard pay award this year, with none of the reforms that would have strengthened their working lives.”
The deal sets out a minimum of 4,000 new additional specialty posts to be delivered over the next three years.
NHS England boss Sir Jim Mackey confirmed the offer to expand training places will “come off the table” if an agreement is not reached.
The walkout, which is due to run from 7am on April 7 until 6.59am on April 13, will be the 15th round of strikes by resident doctors in England since 2023.
In a letter to health leaders, Mike Prentice, national director for emergency planning at NHS England, wrote: “We expect this round to be challenging as there is a shorter notice period, bank holidays within the notice period and the action itself falling during the Easter holidays.
“This will represent a significant strain on staffing resources to provide safe cover.”
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