Wednesday, April 08 2026

Pakistan-brokered ceasefire ignites historic rally, KSE-100 up over 12,000 points
Bullish momentum was observed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire amid Pakistan’s mediation efforts. The benchmark KSE-100 Index gained over 12,000 points during the opening minutes of trading on Wednesday. At 9:37am, the benchmark index was hovering at 164,035.83, up by 12,362.38 points or 8.15%. Following the jump, a market halt was triggered at 9:37am. “All TRE Certificate Holders are hereby informed that due to a 5% increase in the KSE-30 index from the previous trading day’s close of the same, a market halt has been triggered as per PSX Regulations, and all equity-based markets have been suspended accordingly,” read the notice. The market will open at 10:42am. Across-the-board buying interest was observed in key sectors, including cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs and power generation. Index-heavy stocks, including ARL, HUBCO, MARI, OGDC, PPL, POL, MCB, HBL and UBL, traded in the green. “Today was a short-seller’s nightmare and a buyer’s paradise,” said Behtari Capital on Wednesday. “While the ceasefire is provisional, the combination of debt repayment success and lower oil prices has created a strong floor for the index,” it added. US President Donald Trump, following talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, said on Tuesday that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face widespread attacks on its civilian infrastructure.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators psx stock-exchanges

STL eyes growth with multi-billion pipeline
Supernet Technologies Limited (STL) is entering a new growth phase, reporting Rs9.2 billion in revenue for FY2025 and building a multi-billion project pipeline as it expands its footprint in cybersecurity, telecom, and digital infrastructure across the banking, defence, and telecom sectors. The company’s growth momentum comes alongside its transition to the Main Board of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). In a briefing for investors, STL highlighted that following the merger of Supernet Limited into the listed entity, the combined company now operates at a larger scale, with improved market visibility, stronger liquidity, and enhanced ability to attract both institutional and retail investors. The company’s FY2025 revenues were split across its core verticals, with services revenue from connectivity and telecom projects reaching over Rs4.2 billion, and non-service revenue—covering cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and enterprise solutions—exceeding Rs5 billion. Between 2021 and 2025, STL’s service revenue grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 21percent, while non-service revenue expanded at a CAGR of approximately 65percent. Notably, about 90percent of non-service revenue is USD-denominated, while roughly half of service revenue is billed in USD.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators psx stock-exchanges tech-comm
Related symbols: stl (news stock)

Pakistan enters decisive phase of debt management
Mian Zahid Hussain, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum & All Karachi Industrial Alliance and Chairman National Business Group Pakistan, Chairman Policy Advisory Board FPCCI, said that Pakistan is entering a decisive phase of debt management as it prepares to repay a staggering USD4.8 billion in external obligations during the month of April 2026. This significant outflow includes the full settlement of USD3.5 billion in loans to the United Arab Emirates and the redemption of a 10-years old USD1.3 billion Eurobond maturing on April 8. Pakistan’s foreign reserves may ease out by the receipt of USD1.21 billion IMF’s tranche after its board’s approval.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators misc

Gwadar port: Businessmen hail commercial operations
The business community has welcomed the commencement of commercial operations and the availability of modern facilities at Gwadar Port. President of the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jeehand Hoth and General Secretary Khalid Saif termed the port’s full operationalisation a major milestone for the regional economy. In a joint statement, they said that the details shared by Chairman Gwadar Port, Noor-ul-Haq Baloch, clearly demonstrate that Gwadar Port is now fully prepared to handle international trade. The availability of modern cranes, efficient operations, RO-RO services, the WEBOC online clearance system, and robust security arrangements will significantly boost investor confidence. They highlighted Gwadar’s strategic geographic importance, stating that its direct access to Gulf countries, Central Asia, and global markets positions it as a natural gateway for trade. With cost-effective and efficient logistics, Gwadar is poised to become a central hub of Pakistan’s economy.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators misc

PTC seeks policy intervention to deal with textile sector challenges
Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) has sought urgent policy intervention to support the country’s textile sector, which is facing mounting challenges amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PTC Chairman Fawad Anwar outlined key issues confronting the sector and proposed remedial measures to navigate the current difficult environment. According to the latest data, Pakistan’s total exports declined by USD1.9 billion during July–March FY2025-26, marking an 8 percent drop compared to the same period last year. In March 2026 alone, exports contracted by 14 percent, falling by USD360 million. Textile and apparel exports recorded a 7 percent decline during the month, while the overall trade deficit widened by 21 percent to USD27.7 billion over the nine-month period.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators textile-composite textile-spinning textile-weaving