PSX Closing Bell: The Tide Turns Green

Mettis Global reported that the benchmark KSE-100 closed Friday at 170,511.85, a gain of 1,646.81 points or 0.98 per cent. Over the session the index moved across a spread of 4,623.62 points, climbing as high as 170,764.79 and sliding to a low of 166,141.17. Breadth was positive, with 67 of the 100 index companies finishing higher, 32 lower and one unchanged.

Meezan Bank (MEBL) led the point gains with 285.41 points, followed by Fauji Fertilizer (FFC) at 253.44 points. On the downside, HBL, POL, BAHL, KOHC and CHCC pulled the index lower, with HBL alone shaving off 52.85 points. Among individual stocks, AICL topped the gainers at 6.34 per cent, while IBFL was the steepest loser at 6.32 per cent.

Sector-wise, fertilizer and commercial banks provided the largest boosts, adding 375.72 and 362.06 points, while engineering and synthetic and rayon weighed most. The All-Share Index rose 908.75 points or 0.89 per cent to 103,203.79, with traded value at Rs33.70 billion. Year to date, the KSE-100 remains 9,790 points or 5.43 per cent lower for the fiscal year and 3,542 points or 2.04 per cent lower for the calendar year.