What is the KSE-100?
The KSE-100 is the main benchmark index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). A stock index tracks the combined price movement of a selected group of shares. When people ask how "the market" did today in Pakistan, they usually mean the KSE-100.
The name comes from the Karachi Stock Exchange, which merged with the Lahore and Islamabad exchanges to form PSX. The index kept its name.
The KSE-100 is a price index. It follows share prices, and dividends paid by its companies are not added to its value. It is calculated by PSX. PSX publishes the official rules in its index methodology documents on its website. Those documents are the final reference for everything on this page, so check the version date on the PSX document before you rely on any detail.
For the wider picture of how the exchange works, see PSX basics and PSX explained.
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KSE-100 index today: where to see the live value
This page does not show a live or delayed value of the KSE-100. To check the KSE-100 index today, use:
- the PSX official website and its market data pages
- the trading terminal or app of your SECP-licensed broker
- PSX announcements for index changes and reviews
Quotes on social media or unofficial apps can be late or wrong. For trading hours and the limits that pause trading on sharp moves, see Hours and limits.
How KSE-100 companies are selected
PSX builds the index from companies listed on the exchange. Under the PSX methodology, the selection works in broad terms like this.
Sector representation
PSX groups listed companies into sectors, such as commercial banks, oil and gas exploration, fertilizer, cement and power. The largest eligible company from each sector, measured by free-float market capitalisation, is included. This keeps the index from ignoring a whole part of the economy.
Remaining places by size
The other places in the basket go to the largest remaining companies by free-float market capitalisation, regardless of sector. A big sector can therefore hold many seats, while a small sector may hold only its leading company.
Eligibility filters
PSX applies filters before ranking. These typically cover:
- trading activity, so that rarely traded shares are excluded
- listing status, so that companies on the defaulters' segment or with trading suspended are excluded
- a minimum free float
The exact thresholds and review periods are set in the PSX methodology. They change from time to time, so read the current document instead of an old article.
Reviews (recomposition)
PSX reviews the index at regular intervals and announces which companies enter and leave. Between reviews, corporate actions such as bonus shares, rights issues, mergers or delistings are handled under the PSX rules so the index level is not distorted by the action itself.
Free-float methodology explained
Market capitalisation is the share price multiplied by the number of shares. Free-float market capitalisation counts only the shares that are realistically available for trading.
Shares usually treated as not free-floating include:
- holdings of sponsors, promoters and directors
- strategic holdings by the government or associated companies
- shares locked in or held by other controlling groups
PSX gives each company a free-float factor, which is the share of its stock counted as available. The company's weight in the index then depends on its price, its total shares and this factor.
Why it matters:
- A company with a huge market value but a small free float, for example a mostly state-owned firm, carries less weight than its total size suggests.
- The index reflects what investors can actually buy and sell, which makes it a fairer benchmark for funds.
- When a large holder sells shares to the public, the free float rises and the weight can rise at the next update.
Sector weights in the KSE-100
Because weights follow free-float market capitalisation, a few sectors usually dominate the index. Historically, the heaviest groups have included:
| Sector | Why it tends to matter |
|---|---|
| Commercial banks | Many large listed banks with active trading |
| Oil and gas exploration | Large companies, some with significant free float |
| Fertilizer | Big, profitable listed producers |
| Cement | Many listed firms linked to construction activity |
| Power generation | Large utilities and independent power producers |
| Technology and communication | A growing group of listed firms |
The order and size of these weights change with prices and reviews. PSX publishes the current constituents and weights, so use those figures rather than this table.
What weight means in practice: a sharp move in a few heavy bank or energy shares can move the whole KSE-100, even if most other companies barely change. Interest rate decisions by the State Bank of Pakistan often affect banks and leveraged sectors strongly. See SBP rates and economy.
KSE-100 compared with other PSX indices
| Index | What it covers |
|---|---|
| KSE-100 | Broad benchmark with sector representation |
| “KSE-30” | A smaller basket of large, liquid companies |
| “KMI-30” | Shariah-compliant companies |
| KSE All Share | All eligible listed companies |
Details are on the narrower and Shariah PSX indices. For Shariah screening in general, see Islamic finance.
How Pakistani residents get exposure
You cannot buy the index itself. You buy its shares, or funds that track or follow it, through the local market.
- Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), with trading in listed securities and commodities only via SECP-licensed securities and futures brokers.
- On broker checks: per the SECP, lists of licensed brokers are on the PSX and PMEX websites, so you can check a broker before opening an account.
- You also need a CDC account to hold shares. See CDC accounts, Open trading account and Settlement cycle.
- Gains on shares are taxed. See Capital gains tax.
A note on offshore platforms: per the SECP, offshore forex/CFD platforms operate without regulatory approval in Pakistan, and per the SBP, the purchase of offshore forex/margin/CFD products by Pakistani residents violates section 4(1) of FERA 1947. Read Law and regulators before using any foreign platform.
Share prices can fall as well as rise, and a broad index can drop sharply over short periods. Leveraged CFD or margin trading on any index can lose money fast, sometimes more quickly than you can react. See Risk management.
Frequent questions
What is KSE-100 in simple words?
It is the main PSX index. It tracks the combined price movement of a selected group of large listed Pakistani companies, weighted by free-float market capitalisation.
How many KSE-100 companies are there?
The number is in the name. The list changes at each PSX review, so check the current constituent list on the PSX website.
Where can I see the KSE-100 index today?
On the PSX official website or in your licensed broker's terminal. This page does not show live values.
Does the KSE-100 include dividends?
No. It is a price index, so dividends are not added to its value.
Why can a large company have a small weight?
Weight depends on free-float market capitalisation. If most shares are held by sponsors or the government, only the freely traded part counts.
Can I buy the KSE-100 directly?
No. You buy the constituent shares or a fund through an SECP-licensed broker, with a CDC account to hold them.