Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Bangladesh’s stocks edged higher on Monday, but turnover on the major bourse hit three months low to BDT 5.03 billion as investors reluctant to make fresh investment in the market.

Turnover, the most important indicator of the market, came down to BDT 5.03 billion, which was nearly 19 percent lower than the previous day’s BDT 6.20 billion.

Analysts said investors were mostly inactive and not confident enough to put in fresh funds, taking the total turnover to three months low.

Following the previous three days’ sharp fall, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) opened mixed trend amid low participation of investors.

DHAKA STOCK EXCHANGE:

After witnessing volatility almost throughout the session, DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, which replaced the DGEN in four-and-a-half-year back, finished at 6,014, advancing 4.89 points or 0.08 percent over the previous session.

However, the two other indices closed in the red. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips fell 4.39 points or 02.0 percent to close at 2,189 points.

The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) lost 3.33 points or 0.25 percent to finish at 1,319.

A total number of 0.094 million trades were executed in the day’s trading session with trading volume of 140.86 million securities.

The total market capitalisation of the DSE stood at BDT 4,054 billion which was BDT 4,053 billion in the previous trading session.

Gainers took a modest lead over the losers as out of 330 issues traded, 154 closed higher, 135 closed lower and 41 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.

Uttara Bank topped the day’s turnover chart with 6.60 million shares of BDT 272 million changing hands, closely followed by City Bank BDT 228 million, Brac Bank BDT 173 million, Shahjalal Islami Bank BDT 144 million and Exim Bank BDT 143 million.

Asia Pacific Insurance was the day’s best performer, posting a gain of 9.24 percent while Mithun Knitting was the day’s worst loser, plunging by 7.20 percent.

CHITTAGONG STOCK EXCHANGE:

The port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also edged higher with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX –advancing 20 points to close at 11,286.

Gainers beat losers as 122 issues closed higher, 96 closed lower and 21 remained unchanged on the CSE.

The port city bourse traded 13.04 million shares and mutual fund units worth BDT 328 million in turnover.

BBN/SS/AD