KSE-100 adds 5,449 points as cement stocks drive index to 179,335
The KSE-100 closed at 179,335.24 on Tuesday, a gain of 5,448.56 points or 3.13% from the previous close of 173,886.69, putting the index at the top of both its weekly and monthly ranges.
The advance was sector-led rather than broad. Cement stocks dominated the winners' list: Fauji Cement Co. Ltd. rose 9.58%, Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd 7.23%, D.G. Khan Cement Co. Ltd. 6.54% and Lucky Cement Ltd. 5.59%, matching a weekly average gain of 7.24% for the sector.
Refineries went the other way. National Refinery Limited fell 6.65% and Attock Refinery Ltd dropped 3.36%, in line with a weekly average decline of 5.01% for the sector.
No single trigger explained the session's rally. The day's news coverage, as tracked by Token Times, ran to culture, commentary and international politics rather than market catalysts.
The backdrop remains the State Bank of Pakistan's policy rate of 12%, with petrol at Rs 376.06 per litre and high-speed diesel at Rs 398.07 per litre, both as of 28 October. Month to date the index is up 12,925.99 points or 7.77%, from a monthly low of 166,409.25.
