\u201cOverall positive start of the year is witnessed as investors pour in massive liquidity,\u201d says expert
\n Islamabad
\nThe equity market rose on Monday, extending the New Year rally as investors leaned into asset-allocation flows and easing macro signals, with the benchmark adding 8,353.92 points (4.80%) across the first three sessions of 2026.
\nThe Pakistan Stock Exchange\u2019s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at 182,408.23 points, up 3,373.3 points, or 1.88%, from 179,034.93. The session witnessed a low of 179,535.46, up 500.53 points, or 0.28%.
\nDuring the session, the index touched a new all-time intraday high of 183,964.37, gaining 4,929.44 points, or 2.75%, from the previous close of 179,034.93. The session witnessed a low of 179,535.46, up 500.53 points, or 0.28%.
\nThe session witnessed a low of 179,535.46, up 500.53 points, or 0.28%. The day\u2019s peak marked a fresh all-time intraday high.
\n\u201cOverall positive start of the year is witnessed as investors pour in massive liquidity to target year asset allocation,\u201d said AAH Soomro, an independent investment and economic analyst. \u201cGoing too fast too soon,\u201d he added. Research houses flagged a constructive near-term setup. AKD Research said sentiment should strengthen on prospects of foreign portfolio and direct investment inflows.
\nThey added that the KSE-100 Index could extend its uptrend towards 263,800 by December 2026, supported by easing monetary conditions, improving external accounts and steady reform momentum.
\nThe index advanced 6,634 points (3.8% WoW) last week to a record 179,035, aided by a softer-than-expected December 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 5.6%, reinforcing expectations of further monetary easing.
\nOn Friday, the benchmark jumped 2,679.44 points (1.52%) to 179,034.93, trading between 179,467.84 and 176,709.52.
\nOver the past week Pakistan\u2019s trade deficit widened 24% year-on-year to $3.7 billion in December 2025, while GDP growth printed 3.7% YoY in 1QFY26.
\nState Bank of Pakistan (SBP) foreign-exchange reserves rose $13 million week-on-week to $15.9 billion as of December 26, and the rupee appreciated 0.02% to 280.11 per US dollar.
\nThe central bank purchased $6.9 billion from the currency market over the past 12 months, according to official updates. Separately, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs6.2 trillion in 1HFY26, missing the target by Rs338 billion.
\nAuthorities also explored a $1 billion liability settlement via UAE investment in Fauji Group, the United States signalled renewed interest in partnerships spanning locomotive sales and mineral exploration, and officials outlined plans to launch Pakistan\u2019s first Panda bond in China.
\nWeekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), fell 0.67% in the week ended January 1, 2026, to 333.96 from 336.22; on a year-on-year basis, SPI rose 2.41%, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said.
\nBy consumption group, the SPI declined 0.62% for the lowest band (up to Rs17,732) and 0.61%\u20130.73% across higher brackets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cOverall positive start of the year is witnessed as investors pour in massive liquidity,\u201d says expert Islamabad The equity market rose on Monday, extending the New Year rally as investors leaned into asset-allocation flows and easing macro signals, with the benchmark adding 8,353.92 points (4.80%) across the first three sessions of 2026. The Pakistan Stock […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":465749,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-524018","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n