Dhaka stocks inch up, CSE closes lower

Dhaka stocks closed higher for the fourth consecutive session on Thursday with turnover improved slightly as investors followed cautious stance. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) ended at 4,642.37 points, gaining 9.91 points or 0.21 per cent from previous session. The other two indices also closed positive. The DS30, comprising blue chips gained 0.17 to close at 1,758.24 points. The DSE Shariah Index went up by 1.80 points or 0.16 per cent to close at 1,088.92 points. The total turnover on DSE improved to Tk 6.02 billion, which was 9.45 per cent higher over the previous session’s value of Tk 5.50 billion. The gainers took a strong lead over the losers as out of 295 issues traded, 185 advanced, 88 declined and 22 remained unchanged on the DSE floor. MJL BD was the day’s most traded stocks with shares worth Tk 336.90 million changing hands followed by Lafarge Surma Cement, Beximco, BSRM Steels and GP. Prime Bank First Mutual Fund was the day’s highest gainer, posting a rise of 9.63 per cent while L NRB Mutual Fund was the day’s worst loser, slumping by 9.61 per cent. However, the port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended lower with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – lost 5.10 points to close at 8,725.25 points. Gainers beat losers 106 to 103, with 21 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 13.75 million shares and mutual fund units, turnover value of Tk 442.46 million.