KARACHI: Reversing overnight bearish sentiment driven by the deteriorating security situation following two deadly terrorist attacks, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday opened on a bullish note, with renewed buying interest at attractive levels. However, according to Topline Securities Ltd, the optimism was short-lived as the index came under pressure before turning positive again. The market witnessed mixed fortunes as the KSE-100 index swung between an intraday high of 164,500 points and a low of 166,600 points, finally closing at 158,183.95 points, up 313.44 points or 0.20 per cent. Despite the modest gain, trading lacked decisive triggers, leaving investors cautious as the market oscillated throughout the session. Index-heavy stocks, including Fauji Fertiliser, Pakistan Services, Pakistan Petroleum, United Bank, and Kohinoor Textile Mills, were among the major gainers, collectively contributing 777 points to the benchmark. On the flip side, Lucky Cement, Habib Bank, Systems Ltd, and Oil and Gas Development Company together shaved off 303 points. Despite the consolidation, market participation remained low, with trading volume falling 9.46pc to 757.24 million shares and the traded value dipping 12.24pc to Rs33bn. First National Equities Ltd emerged as the volume leader with 89 million shares exchanging hands. On the economic front, Pakistan’s plan to re-enter the global debt market by issuing dollar-denominated bonds next year, for the first time in nearly five years, caught investors’ attention. Web Desk
