DSE turnover hits 7-month low

Stocks ended flat in red on Sunday amid choppy trading throughout the session with participation remained sluggish as investors followed ‘wait-and-see’ policy ahead of upcoming national budget. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) went down by 5.81 points or 0.13 per cent to close at Tk 4,378.25 points from previous session. The DS30, comprising blue chips lost 2.23 points or 0.14 per cent to close at 1,587.37 points. However, the DSE Shariah Index (DSES) managed to close positive with gaining 0.71 points or 0.07 per cent to close at 973.63 points. DSE turnover came down to Tk 1.82 billion which was 29.45 per cent lower compared to previous session’s value of Tk 2.58 billion. Sunday’s turnover was also a seven-month lowest turnover since Tk 1.67 billion on October 21, 2013. The losers took a modest lead over the losers as out of 291 issues traded, 128 declined, 120 advanced and 43 closed unchanged on the DSE floor. BSRM Steel Mills was the top turnover leader with shares worth Tk 84.40 million changing hands followed by Lafarge Surma Cement, Square Pharma, Mercantile Bank and GP. ICB Seventh Mutual Fund was the day’s highest gainer; posting a rise of 8.24 per cent while ICB Fourth Mutual Fund was the day’s worst losers, slumping by 8.00 per cent. The port city bourse -- Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE)--- however, closed positive with its Selective Categories Index -- CSCX gained 3.16 points to close at 8,438.40 points. Losers beat gainers 105 to 56, with 27 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 4.15 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover value of Tk 150.76 million.