The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday closed on a flattish note after experiencing some intra-day instability, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining only 57 points to close at 41,544.

The market had shown positive activity in the first few minutes of the session, spiking to a day's high of 41,820 points, before adopting a downward momentum. It hit a day's low of 41,289 points close to the mid-point of the session. The benchmark, however, recovered from in the second half of the session and managed to close in the green.

Volumes slightly dropped, with 233.6 million shares worth Rs9.3 billion changing hands during the session. A total of 370 companies' shares were traded, out of which 160 advanced, 190 declined, and 20 remained unchanged.

A JS Global report held "concerns over ongoing [tensions in] US-Pakistan relations" responsible for the volatility in the market.

The volume leader in today's session was K-Electric (+4.0pc) with 47mn share exchanging hands on the back of rumors that a deal between the utility and Shanghai Electric is all set to finalise in coming days.

The power generation and distribution sector dominated trading with 50.4m shares traded, while the communication and cement sectors followed with 25.3m and 25.0m shares traded respectively.

Volumes were led by:

K-Electric Ltd: 47.4m shares traded [+4.01pc];

B.O.Punjab: 13.4m shares traded [+3.49pc];

TRG Pak Ltd: 11.3m shares traded [-2.42];

WorldCall Telecom: 10.6m shares traded [+2.15pc];

Fauji Cement: 9.4m shares traded [-0.08pc].

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...