DSE turnover hits nine-month low

Turnover on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) dipped to a nine-month low Wednesday as investors were reluctant to take fresh exposure in the market. “The ongoing pessimism kept investors mostly inactive, bringing the turnover to a nine-month low,” said a stock broker. Turnover, the most important indicator of the market came down to Tk 1.57 billion, which was 28 per cent lower over the previous session’s value of Tk 2.18 billon. It was also nine-month lowest turnover since Tk 1.10 billion on October 20, last year. The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSEX) also went down marginally by 5.52 points or 0.12 per cent to close at 4,371.00 points. The DS30, comprising blue chips lost 2.68 points or 0.16 per cent to close at 1,603.86 points. However, the DSE Shariah Index (DSES) managed to close positive with 0.92 per cent gain to close at 995.07 points. The market breath, however, remained positive as out of 292 issues traded, 123 advanced, 116 declined and 53 remained unchanged on the DSE floor. GP was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 90.60 million changing hands followed by Lafarge Surma Cement, Beximco, FAR Chemical and Appollo Ispat. BIFC was the day’s highest gainer, posting a rise of 9.6 per cent while FAR Chemical was the day’s worst loser, slumping by 5.51 per cent after previous day’s 426 per cent gain. The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended in red with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – lost slightly by 11.81 points to close at 8,327.07 points. Losers beat gainers 101 to 66, with 34 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 4.06 million shares and mutual fund units, turnover value of Tk 125.43 million.