Stocks reached a new all-time high as investors weighed upbeat Pak\u2013US relations: analyst
\n karachi
\nThe equity market continued its advance on Tuesday, testing fresh records as risk appetite stayed firm and the index crossed the 166,000 mark for the first time.
\nThe Pakistan Stock Exchange\u2019s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at 165,493.58 points, up 1,645.90 points, or 1%, from the previous close of 163,847.68.
\nDuring the session, the index climbed to an intraday high of 166,556.29, gaining 2,708.61 points, or 1.65%, and hit a low of 164,208.33, reflecting a rise of 360.65 points, or 0.22%.
\n\u201cStocks reached a new all-time high at the quarter-end close as investors weighed upbeat Pak\u2013US relations,\u201d said Ahsan Mehanti, Managing Director and CEO of Arif Habib Commodities.
\n\u201cResolve over Rs1.225 trillion circular debt, and rupee stability on Saudi FDIs commitments following the Pak\u2013Saudi defence pact played a catalyst role in record bullish activity at PSX,\u201d he added.
\nInvestor confidence remains buoyant after yesterday\u2019s record-setting rally, underpinned by high-level engagement with the US, a landmark Rs1.225 trillion circular-debt financing arrangement with commercial banks, and renewed optimism around Saudi economic involvement.
\nAnalysts see near-term momentum persisting \u2014 particularly in banks, energy and power\u2014while noting that IMF conditionalities and external funding flows remain key risks.
\nSentiment has also been supported by efforts to broaden external financing \u2014 including planned Panda bonds and additional commercial borrowings \u2014 alongside a recent uptick in foreign exchange reserves.
\nThe State Bank reported a $22 million increase to $14.4 billion (as of September 19, 2025), with the rupee firming 0.03% to Rs281.37 per US dollar.
\nSeparately, the Asian Development Bank said in its ADO September 2025 that Pakistan\u2019s real GDP growth is expected at 3% in FY26, with inflation potentially rising to 6%.
\nThe lender credited improved macro conditions and reform progress under the IMF EFF (since Oct 2024), but cautioned that policy consistency and climate resilience are vital, and that recent flood damage could weigh on growth even as external buffers and business confidence improve following the US-Pakistan trade agreement.
\nOn Monday, the benchmark rose 1,590.68 points, or 0.98%, to 163,847.69, after touching an intraday high of 163,903.62 and a low of 162,058.64.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Stocks reached a new all-time high as investors weighed upbeat Pak\u2013US relations: analyst karachi The equity market continued its advance on Tuesday, testing fresh records as risk appetite stayed firm and the index crossed the 166,000 mark for the first time. The Pakistan Stock Exchange\u2019s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at 165,493.58 points, up 1,645.90 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-506021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-business"],"yoast_head":"\n