KARACHI:

The Pakistan Stock Exchange witnessed a historic surge as the benchmark KSE-100 index closed above the 168,000 mark for the first time ever. Investor confidence was buoyed by strong buying activity in the banking sector, resulting in a remarkable gain of 2,849.29 points, or 1.72%, with the index settling at 168,489.63 by the close of trading on Thursday.

Intra-day trading showed notable volatility, with the index touching a high of 168,619.32 and a low of 165,567.22. A total of 776 million shares were traded, reflecting bullish sentiment and heightened investor participation.

The rally was attributed to improving economic indicators, the ongoing corporate earnings season, and renewed interest from foreign investors in sectoral opportunities in Pakistan.

Arif Habib Limited (AHL

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