Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) hit a fresh all-time high, crossing the 183,000 level during the opening minutes of Monday, before the benchmark KSE-100 index settled above the 182,000 level for the first time in history.&nbsp;The market opened on a positive trajectory and maintained an upward momentum through much of the session, reaching an intraday high of 183,964.37 before easing slightly towards the end. At close, the benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at 182,408.23, an increase of 3,373.31 points, or 1.88%.&nbsp;Buying interest was observed in key sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, and power generation.&nbsp;Index-heavy stocks, including HUBCO, NBP, BOP, MARI, OGDC, POL, PPL, PSO, SNGPL, SSGC, HBL, MCB, MEBL, and UBL, traded in the green.&nbsp;The KSE-100 Index surged by 6,634 points, up 3.8% week-on-week, to a new all-time high of 179,035 points during the week ended on Friday.&nbsp;The index has also delivered a robust performance in calendar year 2025, posting a return of 51%, marking the third straight year of double-digit gains, following returns of 55% in calendar year 2023 and an exceptional 84% in 2024.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV, Waqas Ghani, Head of Research at JS Global, noted that Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;equity market has delivered an exceptional return of 331% over the last three years, demonstrating the country&rsquo;s resilience and potential.&rdquo;&nbsp;Citing his 2025 outlook report at JS Global, Waqas added that there is room for the KSE-100 to continue progressing, though at a moderate pace.&nbsp;In his report, he mentioned that valuations at the KSE-100 remain supportive, &ldquo;trading at a P/E of 8x,&rdquo; and anticipated that there could be some re-rating at these levels. Steady earnings growth across sectors and decent dividend yields are expected to drive returns. He projects the index to reach the 225,000 level by December 2026.&nbsp;Similarly, Arif Habib Limited has set a December 2026 target for the KSE-100 Index at 208,000 points, implying an upside of 21.6% from the closing level on 23 December 2025. &ldquo;Our index target is based on target price mapping and justified P/E,&rdquo; according to Arif Habib Limited, Pakistan Investment Strategy 2026: The Equity Edge Continues.&nbsp;The report predicts that the Pakistan Stock Exchange is expected to remain the best-performing asset class in 2026, driven by improving macroeconomic stability, easing inflationary pressures, and sustained domestic liquidity.&nbsp;It added: &ldquo;In 2026, equities remain the top choice, with the KSE-100 projected to grow by 21.60%, significantly outperforming gold (5.15%), silver (7.89%), and T-bills (10.05%),&rdquo; the report said.&nbsp;Meanwhile, a report by AKD Research projected that the KSE-100 index would reach the 263,800 level, driven by further monetary easing and an improving external account position.&nbsp;The index is expected to deliver a robust return of 53% in 2026, reaching a historic market capitalization of $100 billion.&nbsp;

Economy

JS Global projects the index to reach the 225,000 level by December 2026.

PSX hit fresh all-time high, index crosses 183,000 level

LAHORE: Pakistan&rsquo;s stock market extended its record-breaking run on Monday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index closing at an all-time high, as steady buying pushed prices deeper into uncharted territory. The index ended the session at 170,741 points, up 0.52%, after touching an intra-day peak above 171,000, the highest level ever recorded. Gains were sustained throughout the day, despite some profit-taking signalling confidence rather than a short-lived spike. The latest milestone adds to what has already been a remarkable year for Pakistani equities. The KSE-100 has risen nearly 36% in the current fiscal year and more than 48% so far this calendar year, placing the market among the strongest performers globally. Analysts say the rally reflects a combination of improving macroeconomic conditions and shifting investor preferences.&nbsp; &ldquo;The market is being supported by sustained investor confidence and a more favourable outlook,&rdquo; Topline Securities said, pointing to continued interest in energy stocks and expectations of monetary easing. Index heavyweights including Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Systems Limited, Maple Leaf Cement, National Bank of Pakistan and United Bank Limited were among the main contributors to the day&rsquo;s gains, together accounting for a significant portion of the advance. Sentiment was further buoyed by expectations of a policy rate cut, which later materialised when the State Bank of Pakistan&rsquo;s Monetary Policy Committee decided to reduce the policy rate by 50 basis points to 10.5%. The move will further strengthen the appeal of equities at a time when returns on bank deposits have fallen sharply. The record close follows last week&rsquo;s strong performance, when the benchmark index also ended at an all-time high, gaining 1.7% on a weekly basis as economic indicators continued to improve. Pakistan&rsquo;s equity rally has also drawn international attention. Bloomberg in its report last week described the KSE-100 as one of the best-performing markets in the world, noting gains of over 47% this year, with valuations now approaching long-term averages and prospects improving for fresh equity offerings.

The Pakistan stock market hit a record high, with the KSE-100 Index closing at 170,741 points, up 0.52%. The 48% calendar year rally reflects sustained investor confidence, improving macroeconomic conditions, and anticipation of monetary easing, bolstering equities.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan Stock Market"

PSX hit fresh all-time high, index crosses 183,000 level

Pakistan stock market climbs to fresh all-time high