The Pakistan Stock Exchange continued its strong upward move on Monday as the benchmark KSE 100 Index crossed the 181,000 point level for the first time in history. The market opened on a positive note and gained more than 2,000 points during early trading hours.
At around 10:20 am, the index was recorded at 181,118 points, showing an increase of 1.16 percent. The rally was broad based, with strong buying seen across several major sectors. Banking stocks led the gains, followed by cement, automobiles, oil and gas, fertiliser, and power generation companies.
Market analysts say the surge reflects growing investor confidence. One key reason behind the rally is renewed buying by institutional investors, who returned to the market after recent economic signals turned positive. The fertiliser sector also performed well, supported by expectations of stable demand and better margins.
Another important factor is easing inflation, which has improved the overall economic outlook. Investors are also hopeful that the central bank may announce a policy rate cut later this month. Lower interest rates usually make stocks more attractive compared to fixed income options, which helps push the market higher.
Traders said positive sentiment has been building over the past few weeks, supported by improving macroeconomic indicators and better clarity on fiscal and monetary policies. Volumes remained healthy, showing strong participation from both local and foreign investors.
The crossing of the 181,000 mark is being seen as a major milestone for the Pakistan Stock Exchange. Analysts believe that if economic stability continues and policy support remains in place, the market could maintain its momentum in the near term, though short term corrections cannot be ruled out.
