Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Share prices at the country’s prime bourse continued to experience an upward trend for the third consecutive week that ended Thursday, lifted by fundamental stocks.
The benchmark Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) General Index (DGEN) closed at 3,001.46 with a gain of 41.10 points or 1.55 per cent.
The broader DSE All Shares Price Index (DSI) edged up by 45.16 points or 1.82 per cent to finish at 2520.55.
However, the DSE-20 blue chip index lost 50.33 points or 2.27 per cent to end at 2164.70, led by Square Pharmaceuticals that lost 18.50 per cent after its dividend adjustment.
During the week, banks, energy issues, mutual funds and non-banking financial institutions performed well while other sectors ended mixed, market operators said.
Appreciating the Securities and Exchange Commission's move to extend settlement trading days of Z-category companies from seven days to nine, they added it is a good move as it will discourage investors from running after junk shares. “But the settlement period should be extended by two more days.”
The average daily turnover of the week stood at BDT 7.15 billion, an increase of 11.06 per cent up from the previous week's BDT 6.43 billion despite the reduction of the DSE's trading days from five days to four due to a public holiday on Thursday because of Janmashtami, a Hindu religious festival.
Bextex, the sister concern of the country's leading industrial conglomerate Beximco Group, was the top turnover leader for the second consecutive day with shares worth BDT 1.70 billion traded, accounting for 5.92 per cent of the total turnover.
Beximco, the Group's flagship company, came out second with shares worth BDT 1.31 billion changing hands.
The next other turnover leaders were Titas Gas, LankaBangla Finance, Summit Alliance Port, Jamuna Oil, ACI, AIMS First Mutual Fund, AB Bank and Beximco Pharma.
Square Pharma was the highest loser as its share price was adjusted after distribution of dividend among its shareholders.
Sonali Aansh, Sonargaon Textiles, Padma Cement, Beach Hatchery, BDCOM Online, Meghna Shrimp, BD Thai Aluminum and Savar Refractories were the next other top losers.
Major top gainers were Hakkani Pulp and Paper, Kohinoor Chemicals, Eastern Lubricants, Delta Spinners, Aramit, Saiham Textile and Mithun Knitting.
BBN/SS/SI/AD-15August09-2:16 pm (BST)