Thursday, August 13 2026

PSX: Stocks maintain upward momentum, KSE-100 up 500 points
Buying interest was observed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining over 500 points during the opening minutes of trading on Thursday. At 9:45am, the benchmark index was hovering at 180,864.26, up by 553.05 points or 0.31%. Buying was seen in key sectors, including cement, commercial banks, fertiliser, OMCs and power generation. Index-heavy stocks, including HUBCO, FFC, MCB, NBP and UBL, traded in the green.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators psx stock-exchanges

PSX Closing Bell: Bulls Triumph
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed Wednesday's session higher, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining 465 points as buying interest in oil & gas exploration, cement, power, and selected banking stocks helped lift the market. The positive momentum came as investors accumulated stocks across key sectors, with strength in exploration companies providing the biggest support to the benchmark. The broader buying interest also helped the index remain in positive territory throughout the session. The benchmark KSE-100 Index concluded Wednesday's trading session at 180,311.21, showing an increase of 464.53 points or 0.26%. The index remained positive throughout the day, touching an intraday high of 180,901.26 (+1,054.58 points) and a low of 179,920.10 (+73.42 points).
Related news categories: business economic-indicators psx stock-exchanges

CEPB FY26 loss shrinks 83%
Century Paper & Board Mills Limited (PSX: CEPB) reported a dramatic 83% reduction in its net losses for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, narrowing its loss after taxation to Rs58.29m compared to a net loss of Rs345.42m in the preceding year. Reflecting this sharp recovery trajectory, the company's loss per share (LPS) dropped to Rs0.15 from a loss per share of Rs0.86 in FY25. The significant improvement in financial performance was driven by a mild top-line expansion, reduced operating overheads, and a substantial reduction in debt-servicing costs. CEPB’s net turnover posted a 4% year-on-year increase, rising to Rs38.70bn from Rs37.28bn. Although the cost of sales expanded by 4% to Rs36.15bn causing gross profit to dip slightly by 4% to Rs2.55bn the company effectively protected its operating profitability through secondary income and controlled expenses.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators misc paper-bond psx stock-exchanges
Related symbols: cepb (news stock)

SLGL profit surges 25% to Rs546m in 2HFY26
Secure Logistics-Trax Group Limited (PSX: SLGL) recorded a 25% increase in its net profit for the six months ended June 30, 2026, with profit after tax for the period climbing to Rs546.47m from Rs438.59m in the corresponding period last year. Showing this healthy bottom-line growth, the company's earnings per share (EPS) expanded to Rs1.30 from Rs1.55 in 1HFY25 on a fully diluted basis. The top-line showed steady growth, with net revenue rising 6% year-on-year to Rs1.54bn from Rs1.46bn in the prior period, driven by volume growth across all six of the company's revenue-generating business lines. However, cost of services surged 50% to Rs982.68m from Rs654.77m, significantly outpacing revenue growth and causing gross profit to contract by 30% to Rs558.17m from Rs802.09m showing inflationary pressures on direct costs, particularly from fuel price increases that impacted the e-commerce last-mile and long-haul logistics segments.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators psx stock-exchanges transport
Related symbols: slgl (news stock)

Asian stocks rise as US inflation data dents September Fed hike bets
Asian stocks rose on Thursday after US inflation data came in ‌as expected, dampening expectations of further near-term Federal Reserve rate hikes, while oil held near $80 a barrel as Washington and Tehran remained deadlocked over efforts to end the Gulf war. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.97%, led by South Korean shares jumping 4.4%. Japan’s Nikkei gained 1.86%, ​while S&P 500 E-minis were up 0.02%. U.S. consumer prices increased 0.1% in July, in line with expectations, data ​showed on Wednesday.
Related news categories: business misc stock-exchanges