Pakistan Stock Exchange Soars Nearly 13,000 Points as US-Iran Ceasefire Triggers Massive Relief Rally

The Pakistan Stock Exchange witnessed an extraordinary surge on Wednesday as investor sentiment improved following a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.

At the opening bell, the benchmark KSE-100 Index jumped by 12,920 points, reaching 164,594 points compared to the previous close of 151,673.46. The sharp upward movement reflected a strong bullish trend across the market.

Due to the rapid gains and heightened trading activity, authorities temporarily suspended trading for one hour to stabilize the market.

Market analysts attributed the rally primarily to easing geopolitical tensions after the ceasefire announcement. The development has raised hopes for uninterrupted oil and gas shipments through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a crucial factor influencing global and regional markets.

The ceasefire was announced by Donald J. Trump, who stated that the decision came after consultations with Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir. Trump noted that he agreed to delay imminent military action after being requested “to hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran,” while also tying the pause to specific conditions involving Tehran.

Subsequently, Iran assured that it would maintain safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire period. The country also expressed readiness to engage in talks with the United States, with negotiations reportedly set to begin in Islamabad.

A day earlier, the KSE-100 Index had already shown positive momentum, gaining 465.64 points to close at 151,673.46 points.

According to official data, the market recorded a trading volume of 357.269 million shares, with a total value of Rs 20.436 billion. Market capitalization also saw an increase, reaching Rs 16.855 trillion.

Out of 477 active companies, 223 registered gains, 188 declined, while 66 remained unchanged, indicating broad-based participation in the rally.

The sharp surge highlights renewed investor confidence driven by geopolitical stability and optimism surrounding global energy supply routes.