MG Morning Breeze: Updates to Skim before Market

August 20, 2025 (MLN): Morning Breeze aims to lessen the load for its readers by curating noteworthy updates from the preceding day.

• PSO profit drops by nearly 28% YoY

Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSX: PSO) recorded a decrease of 27.5% YoY in its profitability, clocking in its profit after tax at Rs14.24 billion [EPS: Rs35.03], compared to a profit of Rs19.65bn [EPS: Rs39.04] in the same period last year (SPLY). Read more

• Habib Rice shuts UAE unit over Visa issues

Habib Rice Products Limited (PSX: HRPL), a global supplier of organic and non-GMO rice-based sweeteners and polyols, is initiating the liquidation of its wholly-owned UAE subsidiary, Habib Rice Products (FZE), due to persistent visa-related challenges that have stalled operations. Read more

• Century Paper reports loss exceeding Rs300m in FY25

Century Paper & Board Mills Limited (PSX: CEPB ) posted a loss after tax of Rs345.42m (LPS: Rs0.86) for the year ended June 30, 2025, compared to a profit of Rs523.89m (EPS: Rs1.30) in the previous year. Read more

• PSX Closing Bell: Breaking the Ceiling

The benchmark KSE-100 Index concluded Tuesday's trading session at 149,770.74, showing an increase of 1,574.32 points or 1.06%. Read more

• PKR’s REER index increases to 98.58

Read more

• PKR inches Up 5 paisa against USD

The Pakistani rupee (PKR) strengthened by 5.42 paisa or 0.02% against the US dollar in Tuesday's interbank session to settle the trade at PKR 281.96 per USD, compared to previous closing of 282.02. Read more

• Pakistan records $254m current account deficit in July

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• Attock Cement stake sale draws Binding Offers

Attock Cement Pakistan Limited (PSX: ACPL) has confirmed that its majority shareholder, Pharaon Investment Group Limited Holding S.A.L., is actively progressing with the proposed sale of its stake in the company. Read more

• KSE-100 breaches 150K mark in intraday trade

The benchmark KSE-100 index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) crossed the historic 150,000 level in intraday trading on Tuesday on the back of sustained investor interest and positive momentum across key sectors. Read more

• Gold price in Pakistan falls Rs1,100 per tola

Gold price in Pakistan decreased on Tuesday, with 24-karat gold being sold at Rs356,600 per tola, down Rs1,100. Read more

• PSX Intra Day: Hitting the High Notes

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its upward momentum on Tuesday, with the KSE-100 Index trading at 149,476.31 during intraday, up 1,279.89 points or 0.86%, after touching a high of 149,608.16. Read more

• Gold holds steady as investors await key fed signals

Spot gold was up 0.1% at $3,336.94 an ounce as of [1:17 pm] PST, according to data reported by Mettis Global. Read more

• Oil slips as traders eye Russia Ukraine U.S. peace talks

Oil prices edged lower in early Asian trading on Tuesday as investors weighed upcoming trilateral negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the United States, which could potentially pave the way for lifting sanctions on Russian crude. Read more

• OpenAI targets growth in India with low-cost ChatGPT plan

OpenAI launched a subscription plan in India priced at 399 rupees ($4.57) a month, the ChatGPT maker’s most affordable offering yet, as it looks to grow in its second-largest market by user base. Read more

• KAPCO submits Binding Offer to acquire majority stake in Attock Cement

Kot Addu Power Company Limited (PSX: KAPCO) has formally submitted a binding offer to Pharaon Investment Group Limited S.A.L for the acquisition of its entire 84.06% shareholding in Attock Cement Pakistan Limited (ACPL). Read more

• Pakistan, Bangladesh discuss deeper energy and mineral cooperation

Pakistan and Bangladesh are exploring enhanced cooperation in energy and mineral sectors following talks between Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Md. Iqbal Hussain. Read more

• Pakistan, Iran agree on expanded agricultural trade

Pakistan and Iran have agreed to deepen agricultural trade ties, with Tehran set to source a major portion of its rice and meat imports from Pakistan under accords reached at a high-level ministerial meeting in Tehran. Read more

• U.S. government may become largest Intel shareholder

The Trump administration was reported to have discussed taking a 10% stake in Intel, according to a Bloomberg report on Tuesday, in a deal that could make the U.S. government the chipmaker’s largest stakeholder. Read more

• Core Islamic finance economies drives EM dollar debt market

Dollar debt issuance from emerging markets (EMs) remained resilient in the first half of 2025, with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkiye together accounting for just over half of the total, excluding China, according to Fitch Ratings. Read more

• Pakistan unveiled digital land, passport services for UK diaspora

The Government has introduced two major digital initiatives at its High Commission in London, aiming to streamline property and passport services for its diaspora community in the United Kingdom. Read more

• CDC, EClear partner for real-time brokerage transfers via RAAST

EClear Services Limited (ESL) and the Central Depository Company of Pakistan (CDC) marked a significant milestone with the successful integration of the RAAST payment system, said a press release issued today. Read more

• Mughal Steel targets Rs127/share as earnings momentum accelerates

Mughal Iron and Steel Industries Limited (PSX:MUGHAL) is poised to reach a share price of Rs127/share by June 2026, up from the last price of Rs77.16/share, an upside potential of almost 80% in capital gain and dividend yield. Read more

• SBP launches PRISM+ payment system

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has officially launched its upgraded payment and settlement system, PRISM+, with the event being streamed live via Facebook. Read more

• Government steps up relief in flood-hit KP, GB

Government has intensified relief efforts in flood-hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the Senate. Read more

• Pakistan steps into AI revolution with launch of URAAN Techathon

Pakistan took a major step in its digital transformation with the launch of the URAAN AI Techathon 1.0, a flagship initiative under the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives (MoPDSI)’s URAAN Pakistan National Innovation Mission. Read more

• SYS posts almost 59% jump in half-year earnings

Systems Limited (PSX: SYS) reported its financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2025, posting a profit after taxation of Rs5.15 billion [EPS: Rs3.52], up 58.86% compared to Rs3.24bn [EPS: Rs2.22] in the same period last year. Read more

• NBP issues foreign exchange rates

The treasury management division of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) on Tuesday issued the following exchange rates. Read more

• OGDC backs revised Reko Diq funding plan

The Board of Directors of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has approved the execution of two critical agreements, namely the SOE Completion Agreement and the Transfer Restrictions Agreement, as part of the project financing arrangements for the Reko Diq copper and gold mining venture. Read more

• Govt urges farmers to prepare lands for sugarcane cultivation

The Government have urged farmers across the country to immediately prepare their lands for the September cultivation of sugarcane, a move seen as vital for boosting agricultural output and strengthening the national economy. Read more

• Asia stocks weaken amid U.S.-Europe-Ukraine talks

Asia-Pacific markets on Tuesday tracked Wall Street declines overnight ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting later this week. Read more

• PPL ups Reko Diq funding to $715m for Phase 1

Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PSX: PPL) has approved an increase in its pro-rata funding commitment for Phase 1 of the Reko Diq copper and gold project to $715 million, inclusive of project financing costs. Read more

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