Wednesday, December 24 2025

Stocks opens positive, KSE-100 up over 300 points
Positive momentum was observed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining over 300 points during the opening hours of trading on Wednesday. At 10:45am, the benchmark index was hovering at 171,410.93, an increase of 337.20 points or 0.20%. Buying interest was seen in key sectors, including commercial banks, fertiliser, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs and refineries. Index-heavy stocks, including ARL, NRL, HUBCO, MARI, OGDC, POL, PPL, HBL, MCB, MEBL, NBP and UBL, traded in the green. A consortium led by AHCL on Tuesday emerged as the winning bidder for the acquisition of a 75% stake in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), submitting a top bid of Rs135 billion, which was well above the government’s initial minimum price of Rs100 billion and the base price of Rs115 billion, at which the auction began.
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PPL strikes new gas reserve in Kashmore
Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has made a groundbreaking discovery at its LAL X-1 exploratory well in Kashmore, Sindh, marking a significant step into the country’s unconventional gas sector. While the well’s initial flow rate of 0.138 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) may seem modest, industry analysts say the find is a major technical achievement. For the first time, hydrocarbons have been successfully extracted from the Lower Alabaster Formation, a geological layer previously considered too challenging to exploit in the region. Unlike conventional gas reservoirs, where hydrocarbons flow freely through porous rock, the LAL X-1 well tapped tight limestone and shale formations. Drilled to a depth of 1,408 meters after spudding on June 30, 2025, the well demonstrated a steady gas flow with a wellhead pressure of 33 psig on a 64/64-inch choke, confirming that the resource is technically recoverable.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators oilgas-exploration oilgas-marketing psx stock-exchanges
Related symbols: ppl (news stock)

Oil rises for sixth session on US data, geopolitical tension
Oil prices rose for a sixth day on Wednesday supported by robust US economic growth and the risk of supply disruptions from Venezuela and Russia. Brent crude futures climbed 17 cents, or 0.27%, to $62.55 a barrel by 0714 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude added 20 cents, or 0.34%, to $58.58. Both contracts have gained about 6% since December 16, when they plunged to near five-year lows. “What we’ve seen over the past week is a combination of position squaring in thin markets, after last week’s breakdown failed to gain traction, coupled with heightened geopolitical tensions, including the US blockade on Venezuela and supported by last night’s robust GDP data,” IG analyst Tony Sycamore said. US data showed the world’s largest economy grew at its fastest pace in two years in the third quarter, fueled by robust consumer spending and a sharp rebound in exports.
Related news categories: business misc oilgas-exploration oilgas-marketing

Intra-day update: rupee records gain against US dollar
The Pakistani rupee strengthened against the US dollar, appreciating 0.07% during the opening minutes of trading in the inter-bank market on Wednesday. At 10am, the local currency was hovering at 280.00, a gain of Re0.21 against the greenback. On Tuesday, the local unit closed at 280.21. Internationally, the US dollar was headed for its worst annual performance in more than two decades on Wednesday as investors wagered the Federal Reserve would have room to cut rates further next year, even as some of its peers looked set to hike. The greenback stayed on the back foot in Asia trade, with a solid US GDP reading failing to move the dial on the rate outlook, leaving investors pricing in roughly two more Fed cuts in 2026. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar fell to a 2-1/2-month low of 97.767, and was on track to lose 9.9% for the year, which would mark its steepest annual drop since 2003. The US dollar has had a tumultuous year, whipsawed by President Donald Trump’s chaotic tariffs, which sparked a crisis of confidence in U.S. assets earlier this year. His growing influence over the Fed has also raised concerns about its independence.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators misc

New capital will help ‘resolve PIA’s problems,’ says Arif Habib
Terming the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) a “success for Pakistan”, renowned industrialist Arif Habib, the Chief Executive of Arif Habib Corporation Limited, on Tuesday said the transaction would help restore investor confidence and pave the way for fresh investment in the country. Speaking after the conclusion of the privatisation process, Habib said PIA carried a strong legacy and possessed a skilled workforce capable of supporting a turnaround under new capital injection. “PIA has enjoyed a fabulous legacy and was once ranked the second-best airline in the world. Many employees are highly competent and understand their work very well,” he said. He expressed hope that the inflow of new capital would help address the airline’s longstanding operational and financial challenges. “I hope that this new capital will help resolve the airline’s problems.”
Related news categories: business economic-indicators psx stock-exchanges transport
Related symbols: PIAHCLA (news stock)