Pakistan’s benchmark stock exchange, KSE-100, closed in the green on Wednesday, up 896.25 points from its previous close of 182,153.55 points.

The index rose 0.49 per cent, hitting an intraday high of 183,801.70 points and a low of 182,054.64 points. The year-to-date change was 5.17pc while the 1-year change was 61.98pc.

Trading volumes stood at 350,081,145 with a value of Rs24,924,229,716.

The top active stocks were led by K-Electric Limited with a volume of 120,603,034, declining 0.35pc to Rs8.60, followed by Cnergyico PK Limited with a volume of 81,776,987, falling 1.09pc, and First National Equities Limited with a volume of 51,954,245, staying steady at Rs1.56.

The top advancers were led by Amtex Limited with a volume of 23,061,382, rising 23.20pc to Rs5.31, followed by Paramount Spinning Mills Limited with a volume of 85,825, rising 12.89pc to Rs6.57, and Hira Textile Mills Limited with a volume of 792,443, increasing 12.32pc to Rs4.74.

The top decliners were led by First Tri-Star Modaraba with a volume of 45,256, falling 8.48pc to Rs35.51, followed by Shams Textile Mills Limited with a volume of 2,653, falling 8.45pc to Rs28.49, and Tariq Corporation Limited with a volume of 646,475, declining 7.79pc to Rs20.

Topline Securities noted that “support from major heavyweights, ENGROH, LUCK, FABL, MCB, and BAFL, underpinned the market’s performance, jointly adding 920 points to the benchmark”. In contrast, the securities firm said that “BAHL, PPL, and UBL weighed on the index, collectively trimming 311 points from the day’s gains”.

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Oil prices gained on Wednesday, buoyed by escalating risk as US–Iran talks remained tenuous, while signs of an easing surplus spurred by better demand support from India also added strength.

Brent crude oil futures were up 57 cents, or 0.83 per cent, at $69.37 a barrel by 07:11 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 56 cents, or 0.88pc, to $64.52.

“Oil retains a bullish tail-risk bid as US-Iran talks continue but remain fragile, keeping the Strait of Hormuz risk premium supported amid ongoing sanctions pressure, tariff threats tied to Iranian trade, and heightened US regional military posture,” LSEG analysts wrote in a report.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that nuclear talks with the US allowed Tehran to gauge Washington’s seriousness and showed enough consensus to continue on the diplomatic track.

Diplomats from Iran and the US held talks in Oman last week in an effort to revive diplomacy, after US President Donald Trump positioned a naval flotilla in the region, raising fears of new military action.

While oil prices first eased after Oman’s foreign minister said discussions tied to the US-Iran talks with Iran’s top security official were productive, hopes of a peaceful resolution were later dashed following reports that the US may send a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East if talks fail, ANZ analysts said in a note.

Trump said on Tuesday he was considering sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, even as Washington and Tehran prepare to resume negotiations aimed at averting a new conflict.

Also supporting oil prices were signs of easing surplus, as markets absorbed some surplus barrels seen in the last quarter of 2025.

“With mainstream oil on water returning to normal levels and demand for it in India rising, oil prices are likely to remain supported in the near term,” Vortexa market analyst Xavier Tang said.

Indian refiners are avoiding Russian oil purchases to help New Delhi seal a trade pact with Washington, in turn stepping up purchases of oil from the Middle East and West Africa.

Traders are also waiting for weekly US oil inventory data from the Energy Information Administration on Wednesday.

Analysts polled by Reuters estimated on average that crude inventories rose by about 800,000 barrels in the week to February 6, while distillate and gasoline inventories likely fell by about 1.3 million barrels and 400,000 barrels, respectively.

US crude inventories rose by 13.4m barrels in the week ended February 6, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.

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Pakistan’s benchmark index, KSE-100, was trading marginally higher during early intraday trading at 11:20am on Wednesday, up 1,237.11 points from its previous close of 183,390.66 points on Tuesday.

Market participation remained steady with trading volumes of 144,531,284 at a value of 9,557,403,312, contributing to the increase of 0.68 per cent from its previous close.

The top active stocks so far have been led by K-Electric Limited with a volume of 53,256,821, gaining 1.97pc to Rs8.80, followed closely by Cnergyico PK Limited at a volume of 50,242,277, rising 0.14pc to Rs8.39, and Pak Qatar General Takaful Limited with a volume of 14,013,540, increasing 8.90pc to Rs16.77.

The top advancers so far have been Kohinoor Power Company Limited, rising 10.01pc to Rs33.95, Javedan Corporation (Pref), gaining 10.01pc to Rs91.80, and Engro Polymer & Chemicals Limited, increasing 10pc to Rs36.29.

The top decliners were led by East West Insurance Company Limited, falling 9.37pc to Rs51, followed by Nazir Cotton Mills Limited, declining 9.10pc to Rs17.27, and Tariq Corporation Limited falling 8.76pc to Rs19.79.

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