DSE core index up 5.04 points

Stocks ended flat in green Thursday with turnover falling slightly as investors followed cautious stance amid ongoing political turmoil across the country.
The market opened with a negative note, but late hour buying mood managed to close positive territory. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE went up by 5.04 points or 0.10 per cent to close at 4,968.71 points.
However, the two other indices ended in red. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips lost 3.00 points or 0.16 per cent to close at 1,854.14 points. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) shed 1.85 points or 0.15 per cent to stand at 1,181.71 points.
Turnover dropped slightly to Tk 2.94 billion, registering a decline of 1.34 per cent over the previous session's value of Tk 2.98 billion.
The investors' attention was mostly focused on textiles, NBFIs and power - the sectors that accounted for 14.3 per cent, 12.1 per cent and 11.5 per cent respectively of the day's total turnover value.
"The market ended almost flat amidst the investors' shaky participation," commented International Leasing Securities in an analysis.
The investors' continued to act indecisively and stretched their meticulous trading strategy amid the ongoing political turmoil, said the International Leasing.
The investors were selling spree from early in the morning, however, major buy pressure for few large-cap stocks helped the market to endure in green, the International Leasing Securities added.
IDLC Investments said: "Demonstrating strong volatility throughout the session, broad market settled in positive territory".
"The news of spurring forex reserve, backed by surge in exports and remittance made some witty investors to re-asses future economic possibilities," said the merchant bank.
Participation remained stagnant, putting overall turnover slightly below Tk 3.0 billion-mark as investors were waiting for perfect confirmation, the merchant bank added.
"Index is creeping up towards the nearest resistance 5,000-mark backed by flow of fund in market generated by small and mid-cap stocks," commented LankaBangla Securities in an analysis.
However, investors will remain cautious till political front gets stability, said the stock broker.
Current economic data has spotted resilience in economic activities. Foreign currency reserves reached a new high, hitting $22.46 billion on the back of resurgence in exports in the past couple of months.
At the same time the country's overall import increased by more than 11 per cent in the first five months of the current fiscal year (FY), 2014-15, mainly due to higher import of fuel oils and capital machinery, officials said.
Among the large cap sectors, cement witnessed correction of 1.65 per cent and pharmaceuticals also retraced with meager loss of 0.06 per cent. Telecommunication closed flat with no significant movement.
All the other major sectors gained. Food and allied registered the highest gain of 1.64 per cent. Banks and NBFIs - in the financials - gained 0.50 per cent and 0.78 per cent respectively. Power went up by 0.33 per cent.
The gainers took a lead over the losers as out of 308 issues traded, 154 advanced, 106 declined and 48 remained unchanged on the DSE floor.
Activities decreased in the major bourse (DSE) where trade was down 5.56 per cent, but volume was up 2.06 per cent. A total number of 0.0778 million trades were executed with trading volume of 70.96 million securities.
The market capitalisation on DSE stood at Tk 3,310.81 billion against Tk 3,307.52 billion in the previous session.
Lafarge Surma Cement was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 147.48 million changing hands followed by IDLC Finance, Agni Systems, Alltex Industries and RSRM Steels.
Dacca Dyeing was the day's top gainer, posting a rise of 10.13 per cent while Northern Jute Manufacturing was the day's worst loser, plunging 4.39 per cent.
The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) closed marginally higher with its Selective Categories Index - CSCX - gained 32.20 points to close at 9,224.24 points.
Gainers beat losers 113 to 89, with 36 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 7.37 million shares and mutual fund units, turnover value of Tk 279.45 million.
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