PSX extends gains, KSE-100 up over 200 points

Buying continued at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining over 200 points during the first half of the trading session on Friday. At 12pm, the benchmark index was hovering at 171,436.00, up by 260.50 points or 0.15%. Buying activity was observed in key sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs and power generation. Index-heavy stocks, including HUBCO, MARI, OGDC, POL, PPL, PSO, HBL and NBP, traded in the green. On Thursday, PSX extended its gains as cautious optimism surrounding a potential diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran encouraged selective buying in heavyweight stocks, helping the benchmark index close firmly in positive territory.