Profit-taking pulls down stock prices

Stocks edged marginally lower today (Thursday) after three sessions’ upturn with turnover remaining above Tk 5.0 billion-mark as investors went for quick profit. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) ended at 4,961.84 points, shedding 30.15 points or 0.60 per cent. The other two indices also closed in red. The DS30, comprising blue chips lost 10.13 points or 0.54 per cent to close at 1,843.69 points. The DSE Shariah Index dropped 4.94 points or 0.42 per cent to close at 1,161.43 points. Turnover crossed Tk 5.0 billion-mark for the second session in a row on DSE and amounted to Tk 5.13 billion against Tk 5.16 billion in the previous session. The losers took a lead over the gainers as out of 305 issues traded, 160 declined, 110 advanced and 35 remained unchanged on the DSE floor. Hamid Fabrics Ltd, which made debut today (Thursday) was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 4.99.61 million changing hands followed by Beximco Pharma, Beximco and Titas Gas. The new issue – Hamid Fabrics-- was the day’s highest gainer, posting a rise of 60.28 per cent. The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed marginally lower after three sessions with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – lost 38.95 points to close at 9,322.31 points. Losers beat gainers 141 to 58, with 22 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 11.73 million shares and mutual fund units, turnover value of Tk 457.69 million.