KARACHI:

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended Friday on a modestly positive note as the KSE-100 Index closed near 177,700 points, up over 370 points, after a mixed session in which buying in selected heavyweights outweighed weakness elsewhere. About 305 million shares changed hands.

The KSE-100 Index closed at 177,696 points, gaining 373 points (+0.21%) DoD, with around 305m shares traded.

The session remained mixed, with selective buying in key heavyweights helping the index close higher, while weakness across several other sectors kept overall sentiment measured, according to KTrade.

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Commercial banks and technology stocks provided support, with SYS, BOP, HBL and MEBL among the notable performers. BOP remained in focus following the announcement of a Rs1.60/share dividend, which came in above market expectations and provided further momentum to the stock.

Trading activity was concentrated in BOP, CNERGY, KEL and PIBTL, with approximately 92m, 91m, 14m and 9m shares traded, respectively.

Going forward, the market is likely to remain range-bound with a positive bias as investors continue to focus on some pending corporate results.

Sustained participation in banking and technology names could support the index, while profit-taking in other sectors may keep volatility elevated. The 177,000 level remains an important near-term area to watch.