The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) gained 1,428.74 points on Tuesday as investors responded to the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) 50-basis-point interest rate hike and easing international oil prices. The benchmark KSE-100 Index closed at 164,467.20 points, rising 0.88% from the previous close of 163,038.47.
The market opened strongly, with the index climbing more than 1,100 points in the early session before reaching an intraday high of 164,787.67 points. Buying activity spread across banking, cement, automobile, fertiliser, pharmaceutical, insurance, and energy stocks, supporting the market’s overall performance.
Investor sentiment improved following the SBP’s decision to raise the policy rate to 12%. Meanwhile, international oil prices fell around 1% amid hopes of a diplomatic resolution to the US-Israeli war on Iran, easing concerns about potential supply disruptions. Brent crude traded at $114.81 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at $100.88 per barrel in early trading.
