The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its bullish momentum on Thursday, riding a wave of optimism that swept across global markets after a US court blocked former President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index soared to an intraday high of 119,639.47 before settling at 118,971.40, up by 638.50 points or 0.54%.
The stock market rally 2025 has gained fresh momentum, sparked by global investor confidence following the Manhattan-based Court of International Trade’s decision that Trump overstepped his authority by imposing wide-ranging import tariffs. The ruling boosted investor sentiment worldwide, lifting Asian and European stock markets, as well as US futures.
At the PSX, buying pressure was witnessed throughout the session as investors showed renewed interest across various sectors. Automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, and power generation firms all saw active participation. Notably, index-heavy stocks like HUBCO, MARI, OGDC, PPL, SNGPL, SSGC, MCB, MEBL, and NBP closed in the green, reflecting broad-based optimism.
According to analysts at Ismail Iqbal Securities, the benchmark index’s positive close signals “cautious optimism” as investors begin positioning themselves ahead of anticipated fiscal clarity. The stock market rally 2025 appears to be fueled not only by international developments but also by domestic hopes surrounding the upcoming federal budget.
Earlier this week, the market showed signs of recovery driven by expectations of a real estate stimulus in the federal budget, especially supporting cement stocks. The KSE-100 had gained 112 points on Tuesday, closing at 118,333, while remaining closed on Wednesday for the Yaum-e-Takbeer holiday.
Globally, the market's upbeat mood was clear. Japan’s Nikkei jumped 1.7%, South Korea’s KOSPI climbed 1.2% to a nine-month high, and Chinese blue chips advanced 0.5%. European markets followed suit, with futures rising across the board—EUROSTOXX 50 up 1.1%, FTSE 0.7%, and DAX 0.9%. Meanwhile, US futures were on fire, with S&P 500 up 1.6% and Nasdaq futures surging 1.9%, boosted further by strong earnings from Nvidia, the AI chip giant, whose shares jumped 4.4% after hours.
As the world watches how Washington responds to the court’s decision, the PSX remains on a positive trajectory, echoing the global investor confidence boost that’s taken markets by storm. Whether this momentum sustains depends on upcoming fiscal developments and further clarity on budget policies, but for now, the bulls are in charge.
