Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Bangladesh’s stocks closed slightly higher on Monday with turnover crossing BDT 5.0 billion-mark on the premier bourse as optimistic investors remained active on sector specific stocks.
The market started with a positive note and the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) gained almost 19 points within first hour of trading, but last three hours of the session lost most of the early gain, ultimately finished only 2.20 points higher.
DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, finished at 4,626.18, advancing 2.20 points or 0.05 percent over the previous day, which is nearly eight months high level of DSEX since January 24. DSEX added about 103 points or 2.27 percent in the past nine consecutive sessions.
However, the two other in indices closed in the red zone. The DS30 comprising blue chips fell 2.06 points or 0.12 percent to settle at 1,763.68 points.
The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) shed 1.31 points or 0.12 percent to close at 1,109.80 points.
Turnover, the important indicator of the market, saw significant rise and the total turnover amounted to BDT 5.40 billion, which was 71 percent higher than the previous day’s BDT 3.15 billion.
The losers took a modest lead over the gainers as out of 323 issues traded, 138 closed lower, 121 closed higher and 64 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.
ACME Laboratories dominated the DSE turnover chart with over 3.0 million shares worth nearly BDT 327 million changing hands, followed by Lafarge Surma Cement BDT 226 million, Square Pharmaceuticals BDT 187 million, Shahjibazar Power Company BDT 174 million and MJL Bangladesh BDT 141 million.
National Housing Finance and Investment was the day’s best performer, posting a rise of 9.76 percent, while Stylecraft was the worst loser, slumping by 6.18 percent.
The port city bourse, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also finished slightly higher with its Selective Categories Index- CSCX – advancing 4.67 points to settle at 8,657.09 points.
Losers beat gainers as 110 issues closed lower, 98 closed higher and 29 remained unchanged on the CSE.
The port city bourse traded 9.30 million shares and mutual fund units worth over BDT 303 million in turnover.
BBN/SSR/AD