KSE-100 climbs 396.77 points as PSX rally runs into a third session
The KSE-100 Index climbed 396.77 points, or 0.24%, to 164,863.97 by 12:49pm on Wednesday, putting the Pakistan Stock Exchange on course for a third straight winning session this week. The benchmark opened steady and added 363.35 points within minutes of the bell, trading between a high of 164,368.47 and a low of 163,545.69 before easing from its earlier peak, according to Token Times.
The buying came despite a fresh jump in international crude. Brent futures rose $2.02, or 1.8%, to $115.90 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate gained $2.01, or 2%, to $101.91 as of 0735 GMT after an attack on a refinery in Saudi Arabia revived supply concerns amid continuing conflict in the Middle East.
For Pakistan, that oil move is the number that matters. Higher energy costs feed straight into the import bill and inflation, making the PSX's gains a bet that domestic sentiment can outrun an external cost shock.
Regional markets lent a hand. Asian stocks rallied on Wednesday as renewed enthusiasm over artificial intelligence lifted sentiment ahead of earnings from major US companies, support that helped the benchmark hold positive territory through the session.
