Led by energy stocks, PSX gains 575 points

Pakistan Stock Exchange closed Friday's session higher, with the benchmark KSE-100 index climbing 574.76 points, or 0.33%, to settle at 177,166.52. Trading was largely flat for much of the session, The Express Tribune reported, before buyers returned later and pushed it to an intra-day high of 177,583.

Energy names did most of the heavy lifting, as OGDC, Hubco and Attock Refinery topped the list of positive contributors. Arif Habib's report put the gains at 1.99% for OGDC, 1.25% for Hub Power and 5.09% for Attock Refinery, while United Bank, The Bank of Punjab and Thal Limited applied the main downward pressure, with Thal down more than 5%.

Topline Securities said the top six positive contributors, including Service Industries, Pakistan Petroleum and Mari Energies, added 494 points together. Cnergyico had the highest traded value at Rs3.5 billion, and the day saw 689 million shares change hands worth Rs35.66 billion, with 246 stocks closing higher and 216 lower. Foreign investors bought shares worth Rs125 million, according to the National Clearing Company.