PSX snaps losing streak with marginal gain

Dawn reported that the Pakistan Stock Exchange ended a three-session losing run on Thursday, though only just. The benchmark KSE-100 closed at 174,929.69, up 153 points or 0.09 per cent, after swinging between an intraday peak of 175,796.25 and a low of 174,893.68. Topline Securities described the session as highly volatile, with early gains fading as profit-taking set in during the second half.

Pakistan also raised $3 billion through a two-part Eurobond deal, the largest of its kind the country has ever completed. Arif Habib Ltd's deputy head of trading, Ali Najib, linked the mixed mood to US-Iran strikes and rising oil prices.

On the downside, Bank Al-Habib, United Bank, Pakistan Petroleum, Service Industries and Attock Refinery were the heaviest losers, pulling the index down by roughly 196 points. Engro Holdings, Lucky Cement and National Bank offset part of that with gains worth about 167 points. Trading stayed subdued, with 627 million shares changing hands for Rs25.18 billion, a 20.94 per cent drop in value, while Tasdeeq Information led volume with around 95 million shares.