PSX ends flat, selling erases early gains

The Pakistan Stock Exchange ended almost flat on Thursday, with the KSE-100 index closing at 177,323, a fall of 48 points, after an early advance was reversed by late selling. The benchmark had reached an intraday peak of 178,650 before traders booked profits as the session went on. Express Tribune described the close as marginally negative.

APL's FY26 profit came in at Rs17.0 billion, or Rs136.31 per share, a 63% rise year on year, while fourth-quarter earnings fell 19% year on year to Rs2.2 billion. The company also declared a final dividend of Rs40 per share, which lifted its full-year payout to 44% from 30.5% a year earlier. POL posted fourth-quarter profit after tax of Rs12.4 billion, or Rs43.69 per share, up 67% year on year, while full-year profit after tax rose 32% to Rs31.9 billion. Its annual dividend, at Rs100 per share, is the highest on record.

HUBC posted fourth-quarter profit after tax of Rs16.5 billion, or Rs12.77 per share, up 39% year on year and 53% quarter on quarter. Its quarterly dividend is Rs5 per share, declared alongside the results. On the index, HUBC, ENGROH, POL, UBL and FFC together added 494 points, while NBP, PPL, PSO, OGDC and SYS combined to erase 615 points. Turnover reached Rs34.5 billion on 611.6mn shares traded, with FNEL leading the volume chart at 86mn shares.