PSX sets positive tone for December with strong 1,384-point gain | The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Stock Exchange welcomed both the first trading day of December and the first session of the new week with a confident rebound. Despite starting the morning under pressure, the market staged a swift recovery as investor sentiment steadied and trading activity strengthened, setting a positive tone for the weeks ahead.

Fresh buying flowed into key sectors right from the start. Automobile assemblers, cement producers, commercial banks, fertiliser companies, as well as oil & gas exploration and marketing firms all enjoyed renewed interest, lending depth and direction to the broader market.

Adding to the upbeat atmosphere, Pakistan’s core inflation for November 2025 recorded a mild cooling, slipping to 6.15% from 6.24% the previous month. This development was interpreted by investors as a welcome sign of stabilising price pressures as the year draws to a close.

In essence, the PSX set the tone for the new month and week, reflecting broad-based buying, steadier sentiment, and a supportive macro backdrop, laying the groundwork for a potentially constructive December.

The benchmark index eventually sailed through a wide intra-day range, touching a high of 168,246.23 and a low of 166,024.80, with a significant jump of 1,384.50 points, or 0.83%, before settling at 168,062.19.

KTrade Securities observed that the PSX continued its strong run, with the KSE-100 index gaining 1,384 points (+0.83%) to close at 168,062. The rally was broad-based, led by energy, power, cement, and technology sectors. Heavyweights such as Hub Power, Oil and Gas Development Company, Lucky Cement, Mari Energies, MCB Bank, and Pakistan Telecommunication Company drove most of the upside, keeping momentum intact.

Market activity remained strong, with All-Share volumes hitting 733 million. Looking ahead, sentiment remained upbeat, with the IMF board meeting on December 8 and the expected tranche release serving as key catalysts, while regional geopolitical changes may influence short-term flows, according to KTrade.

Overall trading volume jumped to 735.5 million shares from the previous session’s close of 592.7 million. The value of traded stocks stood at Rs46.1 billion. Shares of 484 companies were traded. Of these, 278 closed higher, 162 fell, and 44 remained unchanged. First National Equities led the chart with 70 million shares traded, rising Rs1.68 to close at Rs18.51.