April 22, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 15, 1429

Karachi, April 21: A few of the companies on Monday declared their financial results for the current reporting season.

LUCKY CEMENT: The company unveiled results for nine months (July-March 2007-08) posting profit after tax (PAT) at Rs2.01 billion, translating into earning per share (eps) at Rs7.65 which was lower than analysts’ expectations by 5 to 8 per cent.

Brokerage firm Capital One Equities stated that it expected the company to report after tax at Rs2.16 billion, representing eps at Rs8.20. The board did not declare a dividend along with the 9m08 results.

The company’s share shed Rs2.10 in Monday’s trading to close at Rs144.90.

MAPLE LEAF: Maple Leaf Cement announced cumulative loss of Rs372.7 million for the nine months July-March 2007-08 compared with profit after tax at Rs80.2 million in the corresponding period the previous year.

However on quarter-on-quarter basis, for 3Q08 (Jan-March), the company posted PAT at Rs30.2 million, compared to an about the same loss in the 3Q07. The board did not declare any dividend. The price of the scrip edged higher by 40 paisa to close at Rs21.65 on Monday.

SITARA CHEMICAL: The company reported PAT at Rs435 million and eps at Rs21.30 for the 9M08, compared with PAT at Rs261 and eps at Rs14.06 for the similar 3Q of 2007. The market price of the share declined by Rs3 on Monday to close at Rs319.

AGRIAUTO INDUSTRIES: Agriauto Industries Ltd reported PAT at Rs208 million for 9M08 and eps at Rs8.66, which were slightly lower than PAT at Rs210.6 million and eps at Rs8.77 for the same period last year.

PAK GUM & CHEMICALS: For the first quarter (Jan-Mar 08), the company reported PAT amounting to Rs4.5 million, and reflecting eps at Rs1.28. The results were lower than Rs5.9 million and eps at Rs1.66 in the corresponding quarter of 2007.