WEBDESK: A strong upward trend was witnessed in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday, as the benchmark KSE-100 index surged by nearly 1,800 points during early morning trading.
By 9:35 AM, the KSE-100 Index had climbed by 1,782.51 points, or 1.62%, reaching 111,791.53 points.
This Pakistan Stock Exchange rise came amid renewed hopes of easing tensions between Pakistan and India. Just a day earlier, the index had plunged by over 3,500 points, closing at 110,009.02, following what were described as cowardly aerial attacks by India on Pakistani territory.
On Thursday, significant gains were observed in key sectors including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, fertiliser, oil and gas exploration companies, oil marketing companies (OMCs), power generation and distribution, and refineries. Shares of major index contributors such as Hubco, ARL, Mari, OGDC, POL, PSO, SSGC, NBP, and UBL all saw notable increases at the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange rebound followed a de-escalation in what had become one of the most intense episodes of tension between the two countries in two decades. According to Pakistan’s military spokesperson (ISPR), India had targeted key Pakistani cities such as Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad, resulting in at least 31 fatalities and over 55 injuries.
The spokesperson added that Indian missiles had also targeted strategic infrastructure like the Neelum–Jhelum Hydropower Project. In retaliation, the Pakistan Air Force reportedly shot down five Indian fighter jets — including three Rafales, one MiG-21, and one SU-30.
On a global scale, markets also rallied. Asian stocks gained following U.S. President Donald Trump’s signals of a potential trade deal with the United Kingdom. Investor sentiment was further boosted by anticipation surrounding critical U.S.-China trade negotiations scheduled for the weekend.
According to international media:
- S&P 500 futures rose by 0.5%
- Nasdaq futures climbed by 0.7%
- Europe’s STOXX 600 index increased by 0.7%
- London’s FTSE futures gained 0.5%
Meanwhile, investors were keeping a close watch on upcoming monetary policy decisions from the Bank of England, Sweden, and Norway. It is expected that the Bank of England may announce a slight interest rate cut, while no major changes are anticipated from the Nordic central banks.
Read more: Live India Pakistan tensions: India kills 26 civilians, including Women, Children in cowardly attack
