Stocks down, turnover up slightly

Stocks closed lower on Thursday after three-session gaining streak with turnover rose slightly as investors booked some profit on selected stocks. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) ended at 4,577.99 points, shedding 21.47 points or 0.46 per cent after witnessing volatility throughout the session. The other two indices also ended in the red. The DS30, comprising blue chips lost 8.45 points or 0.48 per cent to close at 1,726.47 points. The DSE Shariah Index dropped 7.42 points or 0.69 per cent to close at 1,066.12 points. DSE turnover rose to Tk 6.32 billion which was 9.34 per cent higher over the previous session’s value of Tk 5.78 billion. The losers took a lead over the gainers as out of 300 issues traded, 150 declined, 110 advanced and 40 remained unchanged. Beximco Limited continued to top the turnover chart for the seven straight sessions with shares worth Tk 486.15 million changing hands followed by newly-listed Far East Knitting & Dyeing, Golden Son, Beximco Pharma and BD Building. The debutant Far East Knitting & Dyeing was the day’s highest gainer, posting a rise of 68.14 per cent while ICB Fourth Mutual Fund was the day’s worst loser, slumping by 7.16 per cent. The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed lower with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – lost 22.58 points to close at 8,658.38 points. Losers beat gainers 121 to 72, with 34 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 15.50 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover value of Tk 545.04 million.