Stocks close higher on last trading day before Eid

Stocks ended higher on Thursday, the last trading day before the ensuing Eid-ul-Fitr with improved turnover as optimistic investors went for buying binge on large cap stocks amid optimism.  Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) will go for a prolonged nine-day vacation from tomorrow (Friday). The market opened with positive note and the upturn continued till the market closure. DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSEX) ended at 4,427.15 points, gaining 38.46 points or 0.87 per cent. The DS30, comprising blue chips gained 24.47 points or 1.52 per cent to close at 1,626.52 points. The DSES advanced 11.42 points or 1.15 per cent to close at 1,004.66 points. DSE turnover improved to Tk 3.39 billion, registering an increase of 6.60 per cent over the previous session’s value of Tk 3.18 billion. Out of 299 issues traded, 199 advanced, 74 declined and 26 remained unchanged on the DSE floor. GP was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 595.50 million changing hands followed by Beximco, Lafarge Surma Cement, Shahjibazar Power and Padma Oil. Shahjibazar Power was the day’s highest gainer, posting a rise of 9.92 per cent while Savar Refractories was the day’s worst loser, slumping by 9.16 per cent. The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed higher with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – gained 66.24 points to close at 8,387.32 points. Gainers beat losers 100 to 71, with 37 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 17.16 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover value of Tk 377.26 million.