Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Bangladesh’s stocks returned to the red last week that ended on Thursday, after remaining upbeat in the previous week, as risk-averse investors booked quick profits.
The week witnessed five trading sessions as usual. Among them, market edged lower for three sessions, while two sessions managed to close positive territory.
The benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) came down below the 4,300-mark and settled the week at 4,298.65 points, losing 8.15 points or 0.19 per cent over the previous week.
The DSE Shariah Index also inched down by 1.04 points or 0.10 per cent to close at 1,056.09 points.
However, the DS30 index, comprising blue chips, edged up 1.96 points or 0.12 per cent to finish at 1,667.25.
The port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed in the red with its Selective Categories Index, CSCX, falling 14.08 points or 0.17 per cent to settle at 8,043.63.
The total turnover for the week stood at BDT 19.55 billion which was BDT 17.45 billion in the week before as last week saw five trading sessions instead of previous week’s four.
The daily turnover averaged BDT 3.91 billion, registering a decline of 10.41 per cent over the previous week’s average of BDT 4.36 billion.
“The week opened with a positive vibe continuing last week’s upward movement. However, profit booking from last week’s gains stopped the up move short,” said LankaBangla Securities, a stockbroker, in its weekly analysis.
IDLC Investments, a merchant bank said, “Continuing the last week’s optimism, market started the week on a positive note. However, as quarterly disclosures of companies continued to flow into the market, investors opted for portfolio reshuffling and profit booking”.
The losers took a modest lead over the gainers as out of 327 issues traded, 151 closed lower, 147 higher and 29 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor during the week.
United Power Generation and Distribution Company dominated the week’s turnover chart on the DSE with shares worth BDT 1.23 billion changing hands, followed by MJL BD, BSRM, BSRM Steels and Linde BD.
Prime Islami Life Insurance was the week’s best performer, posting a gain of 23.33 per cent, while Jamuna Bank was the week’s worst loser, slumping by 18.25 per cent following its price adjustment after record date.
BBN/SK/AD