PSX Closing Bell: Wins by a Nose

Mettis Global reported that the KSE-100 finished Friday up 399.14 points, or 0.23 per cent, at 175,328.82. Gains in commercial banks, oil and gas exploration and cement shares lifted the index as it extended a recent recovery. Renewed buying in heavyweight stocks and fresh positioning after the market's earlier weakness kept the index positive despite selling pressure in refinery and fertilizer shares.

The index moved within a 902.91 point range during the session, touching a high of 175,418.29 and a low of 174,515.38. Volume in the KSE-100 totalled 259.37 million shares across the day. Of the 100 index companies, 56 advanced, 41 declined and 3 were unchanged.

Among individual stocks, THALL, MLCF and AKBL led the gainers, while PGLC, PSEL and CNERGY were the weakest. On a points basis, MEBL and BAHL supported the index, whereas UBL and ATRL were the largest drags. The All-Share Index added 236.26 points to finish at 106,442.83, with traded value of Rs32.42bn.