PSX Closing Bell: A Soft Step Up

Mettis Global reported that the KSE-100 ended Friday's session 373.73 points, or 0.21 per cent, higher at 177,696.50. Gains in commercial banks and technology counters lifted the benchmark even though the wider market was weak. The index moved within an 877.51-point band, touching an intraday peak of 178,042.78 before dipping to a low of 177,165.27.

Among individual stocks, BOP led the gainers with a 7.44 per cent rise, while SYS added the most to the index at 262.48 points. On the downside, SRVI fell 4.23 per cent and was the heaviest drag, costing the index 73.46 points.

The broader All-Share Index ended at 107,705.17, up 159.56 points or 0.15 per cent, while total volume reached 658.33 million shares. Crude oil prices slipped on Friday, putting the two main benchmarks on course to snap a two-week winning streak, and uncertainty around U.S.-Iran relations kept sentiment guarded. Breadth was weak, with 38 of the 100 index stocks finishing higher and 58 lower.