Karachi: The benchmark KSE-100 Index continued its upward momentum in the Pakistan equity market on March 3, 2026, gaining a whopping 5,159.10 points during the trading session. According to the official market update released by the Pakistan Stock Exchange, the KSE-100 index closed at 157,132.10 points, showing a gain of 3.39 percent over the previous close.
The market opened at 151,258.86 points and showed positive sentiment from the start. Buying activity remained strong throughout the session, pushing the index to an intraday high of 158,217.01 points. The day’s low was recorded at 151,258.86 points, indicating that the market maintained its upward trend without any decline.
Trading activities remained healthy, with the index volume recording 429.92 million shares. Analysts believe that strong participation by institutional investors and improved investor confidence played a significant role in the bullish trend. Market experts also pointed to positive economic expectations and solid financial indicators as contributing factors behind the rally.
Among the top-performing stocks, FFC emerged as the top contributor to the index, adding 840.97 points. UBL followed with a positive contribution of 673.53 points, while ENGROH added 563.15 points. MEBL and MARI also supported the upward movement, contributing 353.39 and 323.50 points, respectively. This was supported by heavy-weight stocks, especially in the fertiliser and banking sectors.
However, not all stocks moved higher. PAEL was the top negative contributor, dragging the index down 67.39 points. AICL, AKBL, TRG, and SRVI also experienced selling pressure, but their combined negative impact was relatively small compared to the strong gains of the leading stocks.
The year-to-date return of the KSE-100 index is now 25.08 percent, indicating solid performance during the current fiscal. However, the calendar year-to-date figure remains negative at -9.72%, indicating that earlier market corrections still weigh on the overall annual performance.
Market analysts believe that the positive trend could extend further if economic stability continues and investor confidence remains strong. However, they advise investors to remain cautious and base their decisions on careful research rather than short-term market excitement.
A strong close above the 157,000 level renewed optimism in Pakistan’s stock market. Investors are closely watching upcoming economic developments, corporate earnings announcements, and policy decisions that could impact future trading sessions.
Overall, March 3 proved to be another encouraging day for the Pakistan Stock Exchange as the KSE-100 index recorded a significant increase, bolstering hopes of a continued recovery in the equity market.
