Pakistan, July 25 -- The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed on a positive note Friday, with the KSE-100 index rising 515 points, or 0.37%, to 139,207. Investors showed optimism ahead of the upcoming monetary policy announcement, expecting a 50 basis points interest rate cut. This optimism was boosted by a recent sovereign credit rating upgrade from Standard & Poor's.

According to analysts at Arif Habib Ltd, easing inflation and falling oil prices have increased hopes for monetary easing. This has strengthened market confidence, leading to selective buying in key stocks. Deputy Head of Trading, Ali Najib, noted that these factors have helped lift investor sentiment.

The global ratings upgraded Pakistan's sovereign credit rating to 'B-'...