PSX crosses 146,000 threshold as investor optimism holds a fixed

• The KSE-100 index closed at 145,088,49points, earning 558.64 points or 0.39%.
• The index touched the intra -business high from 145,187.17 points, increased 992.53 points, or 0.68%.
• The low session was recorded at 143,409.59, still 161.68 points or 0.11%.

The stock market continued its upward dynamics on Thursday, closing in a new high -end high led by investor confidence in improving macroeconomic fundamental and strong corporate profits.

The Pakistani Stock Exchange (PSX) reference index was installed in 145,647.13 points, up 558.64 points or 0.39%, from the previous closure.

The index went up to an intra -ended high of 146,081.02 points, earning 992.53 points, or 0.68%, and reached 145,250.17 points, increased 161.68 points or 0.11%, from the previous closure of 145.088.49.

“The ongoing optimism about improving macro and improve corporate results leads the feeling,” said Ahfaz Mustafa, CEO of ISMA IQBal Securities.

In the fixed income market, the government increased on Wednesday 370 billion RS370 billion Rs (T.

The auction saw yields rising between five to 30 BPS points (BPS) in all tenors, signaling the investor warning after the recent Pakistani Bank decision (SBP) keep interest rates.

The cutting-edge of a one-month T-Bill increased 5bps to 10,8996%, while the three-month paper increased by 15bps to 10,8502%. The six-month T-Bill performance amounted to 10,8739%, up to 17bps from the previous auction. The 12 -month document saw the steepest jump, with yields rising 30bps to 10,9999%.

The SBP has maintained a policy unchanged at 11% since its last meeting, after a cumulative cut of 1,100bps from a high record of 22% in June 2024, as inflationary pressures began to recede. However, renewed inflation concerns have mitigated expectations for further relaxation in the short term.

The government, meanwhile, plans to borrow RS6,175 trillions from the domestic banking system between August and October through a combination of T-Bills and Pakistani’s investment bonds (PIBS), underlining its growing dependence on local sources. Its purpose is to increase the RS3,675 trillion through the Bills and RS2.5 trillions via Pibs.

On the corporate front, the MCB Bank Limited board, chaired by Mian Mohammad Mansha, approved a second temporary cash dividend RS9 per share (90%).

This gets the total payment for the first half of 2025 to 180%. The bank earned a profit before the RS58.06 billion PBT for the six months ended on June 30, while the profit after tax (Pat) came to 27.31 billion Rs. Profits per share (EPS) amounted to Rs23.04, below Rs26.95 in the same period last year.

On Wednesday, the KSE-100 had jumped by 2,051.33 points, or 1.43%, to install a high record of 145,088.49, from 143,037.16. The index touched a period of operation 145.187.17 and low of 143.409.59.