KARACHI:
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) traded in positive territory on Friday morning before the market was suspended for the customary Jummah prayer break, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index adding 446.44 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 177,769.21.
According to exchange data captured around midday, the Index touched an intra-day high of 177,833.12 and a low of 177,165.27.
The previous close was 177,322.77. First-session turnover stood at 98.50 million shares, with traded value of Rs7.48 billion.
The official board listed market status as suspended, in line with Friday’s two-session timetable: the morning auction runs until noon, trading then pauses until the afternoon reopening after prayers.
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The modest rebound follows a near-flat Thursday, when late profit-taking wiped out an early rally and the KSE-100 slipped 47.93 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 177,322.78.
That session had opened strongly on weaker oil prices and hopes of progress in US-Iran talks, only for selling after corporate results to drag the Index back.
Friday’s first half was more measured. The benchmark stayed above Thursday’s close for most of the morning and held just under the 177,800 zone into the break.
Volume so far is well below a full-day tally, as is typical before the second session, which on Fridays runs from about 2:32pm to 4:30pm.
Investors will watch whether afternoon trade can extend the morning gains or whether the market again slips into the tight, news-driven range that has defined recent sessions.
Near-term direction remains sensitive to geopolitics, oil and the ongoing results season.
For now, the first session leaves the KSE-100 modestly higher and parked near 177,800 as the bourse observes the Friday prayer halt.
