MG Morning Breeze: Updates to Skim before Market

Mettis Global's Morning Breeze digest reported that the Petroleum Division revised ex-depot prices effective August 21, 2026, lifting high-speed diesel by Rs1.64 per litre and petrol by Rs0.27 per litre. The same roundup said State Bank of Pakistan reserves rose $24.9 million in the week to August 13, reaching $17.08 billion. Foreign investors also repatriated $261.4 million in profit and dividends during July 2026, up 72.66% month on month but down 11.39% year on year.

On the corporate front, the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises has cleared board appointments at Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC). Separately, JDW Sugar Mills (JDWS) has been approached to join a Pakgen Limited-led consortium linked to the privatisation of FESCO. The digest also noted that the benchmark KSE-100 closed Thursday at 176,591.76, down 254.60 points or 0.14%.

Half-year results were mixed. Bank AL Habib (BAHL) reported a 22% fall in consolidated net profit to Rs15.41bn for 1HCY26, against Rs19.79bn a year earlier, while Samba Bank (SBL) posted a 48% rise to Rs273.67m after taxation. Pakistan Aluminium Beverage Cans (PABC) saw profit drop 27% to Rs2.85bn, while Rafhan Maize Products (RMPL) rose 6% to Rs4.11bn.