KARACHI, Feb 1: As the results announcement season is in full bloom, more than a dozen companies have unveiled financial figures in the last two days: Fertilizer sector has completed the act with Engro; Fauji Fertilizer; Dawood Hercules and Fauji Bin Qasim coming up with their year-end numbers.

But the real impact is yet to come as oil and gas; cement and most importantly, commercial banks begin scheduling Board meetings: The first upcoming announcement is from Union Bank Limited, which has already notified Feb 4 (Saturday) as the date of its results announcement. Analysts have been making consensus prediction of a ‘phenomenal’ growth in banking sector profits. Investors’ interest centres on the sector’s performance with a great deal of enthusiasm to see what comes out from Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB) and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).

On Thursday, Pakistan Oilfields, Attock Refinery and Attock Petroleum would announce financial figures for the half year ended December 31, 2006. More ‘oil and gas sector’ results would follow latter: National Refinery on Friday and Pakistan Refinery on Feb 14 and others.

Earlier on Tuesday, Engro reported after tax profit at Rs2,319 million for FY05 44 per cent higher than Rs1,611 million the previous year. The company declared final cash dividend at Rs5 per share with 10 per cent rights issue at Rs80 per share. Fauji Fertilizer’s taxed profit stood at Rs4,897 million, up from Rs4,004m in FY04. The company recommended final cash dividend at Rs2.25 per share. Dawood Hercules taxed profit recorded a massive jump to Rs2,868m for FY05 compared to Rs1,240 earned the previous year. The company announced final cash dividend at Rs2.50 and bonus shares at 15 per cent.

Unilever’s after tax profit was slightly lower at Rs1,602 million, from Rs1,725 million last year, but at the operating level the company earned Rs2,559 million, higher than Rs2,030 million the previous year. The year 2005 did not include the Dalda edible oil business, which was divested in 2004. Lever announced Rs60 in final cash dividend per share of Rs50. Shell Gas (LPG) posted a loss after tax amounting to Rs21.4m for FY05, in place of profit of Rs38.4m the year earlier. About half a dozen sugar companies off-loaded, what looked like a mixed bag of results.