Stocks edge down amid choppy trading

Stocks inched down for the third running sessions on Monday with turnover remaining below Tk 4.0 billion level as investors followed cautious stance. The market opened with a positive note, but could not sustain. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went down further by 7.48 points or 0.16 per cent to finish at 4,503.98. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES), dropped 3.52 points or 0.32 per cent to end at 1,099.57 points. However, the DS30 index, comprising blue chips, advanced 1.95 points or 0.11 per cent to close at 1,733 points. DSE turnover stood at Tk 3.80 billion, registering an increase of 23 per cent over the previous day’s two months lowest Tk 3.08 billion. The losers took a modest lead over the gainers as out of 311 issues
traded, 144 declined, 112 advanced and 55 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor. Titas Gas was the day’s top turnover leader with shares worth Tk 171.60 million changing hands followed by United Airways, Beximco Pharma, Beximco and KPCL. Hakkani Pulp and Paper was the day’s top gainer, posting a rise of 10 per cent while Modern Dyeing was the worst loser, plunging by 8.78 per cent. However, the port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), ended in green trend with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – gained 16 points to close at 8,471.28 points. Losers beat gainers 116 to 90, with 28 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 10.24 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover of Tk 267 million.