DSE turnover dips below Tk 3.0b mark

Stocks closed marginally higher amid volatile trading on Thursday with turnover on the major bourse dipping below Tk 3.0 billon mark as investors remained reluctant to make fresh exposure amid weak sentiment. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went up by 15.94 points or 0.33 per cent to 4,772.55 amid see-saw throughout the session. The DS30, comprising blue chips, gained 8.81 points or 0.50 per cent to reach 1,760.89 points. However, the DSE Shariah Index dropped 1.84 points or 0.16 per cent to end the week at 1,106.85 points. Turnover at the country’s prime bourse remained dry and plunged further to Tk 2.63 billion, registering a decline of 15.70 per cent over the previous session’s Tk 3.12b which is more than 4 months’ lowest turnover since Tk 2.63b on July 20. The gainers took a lead over the losers as out of 302 issues traded today, 162 declined, 105 advanced and 35 remained unchanged. Keya Cosmetics was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 119.12 million changing hands followed by Beximco, Square Pharma, Western Marine and Summit Alliance Port. Kohinoor Chemical was the day’s highest gainer, posting a rise of 7.54 per cent while Khan Brokers was the day’s worst loser, slumping by 6.34 per cent. The country’s 2nd market – Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) – also closed almost flat in a positive note with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – advancing 3.87 points to end the week at 8,952.62. Gainers beat losers 190 to 86, with 33 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 6.76m shares and mutual fund units with a turnover value of Tk 227.75m.