New benchmark index proposed from Jan 1

FE ReportA committee formed to make recommendations on index calculation has suggested the securities regulator to launch a new benchmark DSE index under free float method at the prime bourse, officials said. The committee headed by ATM Tariquzzaman, an executive director of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), also has made another recommendation to launch the new index from the beginning of the next year. A DSE official said only the shares of public portion will be taken into account of the new index calculated under free float method. Presently, the prime bourse is calculating its benchmark index, whose weight is based on all shares of listed companies, except the shares locked by the regulator for a specific time period.