LAHORE: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed the week on a record-breaking note Friday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index settling at an all-time high of 162,257 points, buoyed by improved sentiment following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with US President Donald Trump.
The market rallied strongly throughout the session, gaining nearly 3,000 points compared to Thursday’s close of 159,280. Buying interest was broad-based, led by stocks in cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, power, and refineries.
The positive momentum continued after PM Sharif’s early Friday meeting with Trump at the White House, where he was accompanied by Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The Prime Minister thanked Trump for a tariff arrangement concluded earlier this year and invited US firms to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture, IT, minerals, and energy sectors.
“Improved external and fiscal balances under the IMF programme have provided much-needed confidence in macro stability,” Waqas Ghani, Head of Research at JS Global, told Pakistan TV Digital. “Corporate earnings prospects remain upbeat, particularly in cyclicals, and liquidity continues to drive momentum.”
Irfan Saeed, Regional Head at Munir Khanani Securities, said the record close reflects “a convergence of strong fundamentals, upbeat corporate earnings, and fresh optimism after the Trump–Sharif meeting.” He noted that expectations of investment from the Middle East, particularly in oil, gas, and minerals, have further strengthened sentiment.
He added that the oil and gas sector has been pivotal in driving the rally, with the recent settlement of circular debt injecting liquidity and boosting investor confidence.
The week’s performance cements PSX’s position among the best-performing regional markets, with analysts expecting the bullish trend to continue in the near term.
