Business
Stocks rise on selective buying as investor caution lingers | The Express Tribune
Following Tuesday’s sharp decline, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a mild rebound on Wednesday. The KSE-100 index advanced by 313.44 points, or 0.20%, closing the session at 158,183.95.
The benchmark index moved between an intra-day high of 159,516.41 and a low of 157,203.55 as investors remained wary amid ongoing political and security developments.
Although the market managed to regain some lost ground, overall confidence remained fragile. Trading was largely driven by selective buying, with participants hesitant to take aggressive positions until greater stability emerges on the evolving domestic political landscape and security developments that continue to influence market direction.
KTrade Securities wrote in its market wrap that PSX saw a mixed session following yesterday’s fallout as the KSE-100 index edged up 313 points, or +0.20% day-on-day, to close at 158,183 points. The fertiliser sector took centre stage, Fauji Fertiliser in particular stood out, single-handedly driving most of the day’s gains, while the broader market remained largely subdued.
Market participation stayed lacklustre. Looking ahead, investor sentiment is likely to remain sensitive to law-and-order developments, political clarity surrounding the 27th Constitutional Amendment, and the anticipated IMF tranche release.
Besides, broader regional geopolitical currents will also play a decisive role in shaping near-term market direction, KTrade anticipated.
Arif Habib Limited (AHL) observed that intra-day gains failed to hold, with supply still heavy and not allowing the KSE-100 to regain a 160k handle.
Some 44 shares rose while 54 fell, with Fauji Fertiliser (+3.6%), Pakistan Services (+6.8%), and Pakistan Petroleum (+1.61%) contributing the most to index gains.
On the flip side, Lucky Cement (-1.46%), Habib Bank (-1.29%), and Systems Limited (-1.54%) were the biggest index drags, it said.
In major news, Pakistan plans to raise funds through dollar bonds next year after nearly five years, marking a turning point for a country that came close to default two years ago.
The weak recovery keeps the KSE-100 exposed to increased downside risk while below 161k, and declines now through 157k can open up a fresh leg to the downside.
Regional news flow will again take centre stage over the coming weeks, AHL predicted.
Overall trading volume decreased to 757.2 million shares from Tuesday’s tally of 836.4 million. The value of trade stood at Rs33.4 billion.
Shares of 480 companies were traded. Of these, 188 stocks closed higher, 235 fell, and 57 remained unchanged. First National Equities topped the chart with trading in 89.4 million shares, losing Rs1.95 to close at Rs20.66.
Fan spending for Harry Styles’s 12-night run at Wembley Stadium is set to reach £1.1 billion despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures, figures suggest.
Ticket-holders are expected to spend a total of £981 on average attending the Together, Together tour – which is limited to London in the UK – including travelling to the venue, staying overnight, buying merchandise and other costs, according to a survey for Barclays bank.
The figure exceeds the average £848 spent by fans who flocked to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, and the average £766 on attending the Oasis Live ’25 shows, although these were both held across four UK locations, leading to lower travel costs.
Styles’ fans anticipate they will spend an average £102 on official tour merchandise, while nine in 10 will participate in a “fan trend” on the day with 63% planning to wear a Harry Styles-themed look.
A fifth (20%) will make sure their outfits are co-ordinated with their friends and 22% hope to create or exchange fan-made items with other fans.
Barclays said the event was set to be a “major cultural moment” as a million ticket-holders travel to London for the 12 dates beginning on June 12.
With just one other European tour location, in Amsterdam, Styles’ Wembley residency will be the most performances by any artist in a single year at the venue, which has a capacity of around 90,000 people for music events.
The survey found those going to the show spent an average of £143.20 on their ticket, with 19% saying this was more than they planned but 66% saying they would have been willing to pay more if needed.
Other expected costs include an average £141.20 on accommodation, £103.10 on transport and £103.10 on food and drinks before the show.
Some 28% of fans say they are planning other activities such as sightseeing and exhibitions while in London.
More than a quarter (27%) of ticket-holders view the concert as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and 17% said FOMO (fear of missing out) played a part in their purchase.
Almost 74% of those polled said getting tickets to sold-out or in-demand events now felt like a status symbol.
Tom Corbett, managing director of sponsorship and client experience at Barclays, said: “This tour shows just how powerful live entertainment can be, benefiting consumers and businesses alike.
“‘Concert tourism’ is on the rise because of the extent to which people value unique, shared experiences – so much so that they’re willing to invest in them even when cutting back elsewhere, and to travel to see their favourite artists perform.”
Opinium surveyed 2,000 respondents, and an additional 200 ticket-holders, between April 28 and May 1.
A sign sits outside of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Roybal campus in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. March 18, 2026.
Megan Varner | Reuters
One American has tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo in connection to the deadly outbreak in central Africa that global health agencies are racing to contain, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday.
The person was exposed as part of their work in Congo, developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive late Sunday, Dr. Satish Pillai, the CDC’s Ebola response incident manager, told reporters on a call. The CDC and State Department are working to move that individual and six other Americans exposed to Ebola to Germany for treatment, care and monitoring.
But Pillai emphasized that no cases tied to the outbreak have been confirmed in the U.S., and that the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low.
Still, the CDC also announced on Monday that for the next 30 days, it will restrict entry into the country for people without a U.S. passport who were in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan or Uganda in the last three weeks.
The update came one day after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola epidemic a “public health emergency of international concern.” The outbreak does not meet the criteria of a “pandemic emergency,” but the WHO warned that the high positivity rate and increasing cases and deaths point toward a “potentially much larger outbreak” than what is being detected and reported.
As of Sunday, more than 300 suspected cases and 88 suspected deaths have been reported, primarily in Congo but also in neighboring Uganda, according to the CDC.
The specific virus involved in this outbreak, called Bundibugyo, has no vaccine or treatment. Historically, that virus has death rates ranging from 25% to 50%, the CDC added.
But agency officials told reporters on Monday that work is underway to develop a monoclonal antibody therapy as a potential treatment for this specific strain of Ebola.
Musk’s loss against OpenAI is the latest in a string of courtroom defeats.
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