DSE turnover hits below Tk 4.0 billion-mark

Dhaka stocks Wednesday ended the session with a marginal loss after consecutive rise in previous two sessions due to profit booking observed among investors, stock brokers said.
On the day, benchmark Index DSEX shed 0.36 per cent or 18.04 points to close at 4951.68 points. DSE Shariah Index lost 0.70 per cent or 8.31 points to close at 1174.89 points whereas the DSE30 went down by 0.46 per cent or 8.55 point to close at 1840.67 points.
Among 307 traded issues, 81 advanced, 174 declined and remaining 52 remained unchanged at the end of the day's trading session.
The turnover value stood at above Tk 3.90 billion which was 3.54 per cent lower than the value observed in previous session.
Bangladesh Building Systems (BBS) topped the chart of turnover leaders with a value of Tk 235.51 million followed by IDLC, Agni Systems, Active Fine Chemicals, Alltex, DESCO, Saif Powertec, Grameenphone, Summit Alliance Port and Square Pharmaceuticals.
Maksons Spinning Mills was number one gainer with a change of 5.92 per cent in price whereas Quasem Drycells was the day's worst loser with a loss of 5.63 per cent in market price.
Stock brokers said among the major sectors, profit booking pressure was most intense in Engineering and Telecommunication which shed 0.9 per cent and 0.9 per cent respectively.
Among other sectors, Bank contracted by 0.12 per cent, while Fuel and Power, Telecommunications and Pharmaceuticals declined by 0.88 per cent, 0.92 per cent and 0.30 per cent respectively.
Managing Director of IDLC Investments Md. Moniruzzaman said it's a positive thing that the market remains comparatively steady amid political turmoil.
"It is observed that the country's political situation started to be worse since November last. But the market showed steady behavior since November along with a rise in turnover value," Moniruzzaman said.
The securities regulator Tuesday formed two separate bodies to probe into the 'unusual' price hike of Northern Jute Manufacturing Company and Alltex Industries observed recently.
The market insiders said at the very beginning of Wednesday's trading session, a sell pressure was observed from the buyers of the Alltex Industries following the regulatory decision on conducting investigation over the company's unusual price hike.
They said, however, later in the day the buyers' end of Alltex became strong," a stock brokers said.
On Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), the benchmark index CASPI went down by 56.59 points to close at 15206.44 points on Wednesday.
Among 243 traded issues, 62 advanced, 150 declined and remaining 31 remained unchanged.
At the end of the day's trading session, the turnover value stood at above Tk 261.01 million.
mufazzal.fe@gmail.com