Stocks close flat

Stocks closed flat on Monday with turnover improved slightly as investors remained cautious ahead of the national budget to be placed in the parliament on June 5. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) ended at 4,378.34 points, gaining only 0.09 points from previous session. The DS30, comprising blue chips gained 2.03 points or 0.12 per cent to close at 1,589.40 points. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) also advanced 4.24 points or 0.43 per cent to close at 977.87 points. DSE turnover stood at Tk 2.36 billion, registering an increase of 22.88 per cent over the previous session’s 7-month lowest turnover of Tk 1.82 billion. The losers took a modest lead over the losers as out of 294 issues traded, 127 declined, 108 advanced and 59 closed unchanged on the DSE floor. Familytex (BD) was the top turnover leader with shares worth Tk 130.33 million changing hands followed by Square Pharma, Lafarge Surma Cement, GP and BSRM Steels Mills. Salvo Chemicals was the day’s highest gainer; posting a rise of 5.33 per cent while Rupali Life Insurance was the day’s worst losers, slumping by 9.67 per cent. The port city bourse -- Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE)---, however, closed negative with its Selective Categories Index -- CSCX lost 20.97 points to close at 8,417.43 points.Losers beat gainers 120 to 59, with 29 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 5.16 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover value of Tk 173.32 million.