Stocks close flat on profit-taking

The KSE-100 index finished Thursday's session almost unchanged as late profit-taking erased an early rally, according to The Express Tribune. The index had climbed to an intra-day high of 178,650 on lower oil prices and hopes for progress in US-Iran talks, but sellers emerged once a group of corporate earnings releases was published. It eventually settled at 177,322.78, down 47.93 points, or 0.03%, after dipping to 177,196 earlier.

The count showed 52 losers outnumbering 48 gainers, while 614 million shares changed hands worth Rs34.5 billion. NBP slid 6.56% after first-half earnings per share of Rs15.27 came in 24% lower year on year, as operating costs rose. Hubco rose 1.65% after beating estimates with FY26 EPS of Rs38.26, while Systems Ltd reported 1HCY26 EPS of Rs4.11, up 13%. DG Khan Cement declared a lower-than-expected dividend of Re1 per share despite FY26 EPS of Rs26.08, up 32%.

Pakistan Oilfields rose 3.4%, whereas Pakistan Petroleum and Pakistan State Oil lost 2.42% and 2.92%, respectively. First National Equities led trading volumes with 86 million shares, while overseas investors offloaded Rs805 million worth of stock, according to data from the National Clearing Company. Arif Habib Limited called the session largely flat and pointed to a resistance band between 178,000 and 180,000.