Pakistan Stock Exchange experienced positive momentum on Tuesday as investors weighed the latest economic data with the share prices gaining healthy value, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index closed at 112,743.79 points after gaining 756.91 points, or 0.68 percent, recovering from Monday’s sharp decline. The index touched an intraday high of 112,877.01 points, while the lowest level was recorded at 111,717.17 points.
Economic experts noted that while inflation data provided some support, the optimism was tempered by the widening trade deficit.
The experts further said "The market has remained range-bound for the last few days, and the lack of volumes is also a concern. The excitement of the CPI numbers yesterday was offset by the larger-than-expected trade deficit and neutralised the potential upside move”.
Pakistan’s inflation rate saw a sharp decline in February 2025, dropping to 1.5% year-on-year (YoY), marking the lowest level since September 2015, according to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Earlier on Monday, the KSE-100 Index witnessed bearish trend, losing 1,264.78 points, a negative change of 1.12 percent, closing at 111,986.89 points.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s banking sector reported robust earnings for 2024, with listed banks posting a combined profit of nearly Rs600 billion despite a tax expense of Rs650 billion, according to brokerage firm Topline Securities.
Meezan Bank Ltd (MEBL) emerged as the most profitable bank, recording earnings of Rs101.5 billion, followed by United Bank Ltd (UBL) at Rs75.8 billion and MCB Bank Ltd (MCB) at Rs63.5 billion. Habib Bank Ltd (HBL) and Standard Chartered Pakistan Ltd (SCBPL) rounded out the top five with profits of Rs57.8 billion and Rs46.1 billion, respectively.
Reporter Ashraf Khan