Dhaka bourse closes flat, with lowest turnover in a month

The Dhaka bourse on Thursday experienced one-month low participation from investors as most of them refrained from making fresh investments amid persistent market volatility.
The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) posted a turnover of Tk 3.89 billion, the lowest since October 29.
A market review of EBL Securities said the risk-averse investors continued their cautious selling approach to safeguard their funds from the volatile market.
The DSE broad index DSEX escaped any moderate loss due to the price appreciation of some large-cap stocks.
The market opened the day's session with a positive note. The DSEX was above the day's starting mark till midsession. Later on, the index lost some points and closed flat with a loss of 1.06 points to 6261.72 points.
The large-cap companies, which helped the DSEX to overcome any moderate or sharp loss, include Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), Square Pharmaceuticals, and Heidelberg Cement.
Of the companies that played a positive role, the BSC solely helped the index recover a loss of 2.4 points as its price went up 9.04 per cent to Tk 117.
The company also saw the highest participation from investors and topped the chart of 20 most-traded stocks, with a transaction volume of Tk 351 million.
On the other hand, LafargeHolcim had a significant role in dragging the index as its price declined 1.27 per cent.
Amid the marginal loss of the broad index, the DS30 index advanced marginally following the price appreciation of blue chip stocks.
Apart from the BSEC, Heidelberg Cement and Square Pharmaceuticals, the blue chip companies which experienced appreciation included Eastern Housing, Genex Infosys, Meghna Petroleum and Unique Hotel & Resorts.
Of the 310 issues traded on Thursday, 62 advanced, 81 advanced and 167 were unchanged on the DSE.
Following investors' selling pressure, a majority of the life and non-life insurers witnessed price correction.
The insurers also dominated the chart of top losers as seven top losers were from the insurance sector.
At the end of the session, 43 out of 57 listed insurers closed in red and the market capitalisation of general insurance and life insurance sectors declined 1.7 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively.
Investors' participation was mostly concentrated on food & allied sector which grabbed 17.2 per cent of the market turnover followed by general insurance, and miscellaneous.
On Thursday, the non-performing company Shyampur Sugar Mills was the number one gainer with a rise of 9.98 per cent on the DSE.
On the other hand, Emerald Oil Industries was the day's worst loser after declining 7.11 per cent.

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