Stocks close flat amid weak sentiment

The stocks ended flat on Sunday amid choppy trading with turnover hitting a fresh 4-and-half-month low as investors remained mostly inactive amid lack of any clear direction. The market opened with a positive mood, but could not sustain the trend amid volatility. DSEX, the prime index of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), dipped 3.12 points or 0.06 per cent to 4,769.42. The DS30 comprising blue chips fell 0.84 points or 0.04 per cent to 1,760.05. The DSE Shariah Index shed 0.08 points to close at 1,106.77 points. Trading at the DSE remained dry and went down to Tk 2.32 billion, registering a decline of 11.78 per cent over the previous session’s Tk 2.63b. The turnover was the lowest in 4-and-half months, since the Tk 1.93b on July 15. The gainers took a lead over the losers as out of 302 issues traded, 139 gained, 123 declined and 40 remained unchanged. Western Marine Shipyard was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 99.59 million changing hands followed by Keya Cosmetics, Lafarge Surma Cement, Beximco Pharma and AB Bank. Agni System was the day’s highest gainer, posting a rise of 8.69 per cent while Olympic Industries was the day’s worst loser, slumping by 24.70 per cent following its price adjustment after record date. However, the port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), closed flat in positive zone with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – gaining 6.62 points to close at 8,959.25. Losers beat gainers 92 to 70, with 37 issues remaining unchanged at the CSE that traded 5.23m shares and mutual fund units with a turnover value of Tk 189.36m.