Stocks edge flat amid high turnover

Stocks edged marginally lower for the third sessions straight on Sunday with turnover improved slightly as late profit booking sale cut early gains. The market started with a positive note, but could not sustain as the session progressed. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) ended at 4,540.60 points, shedding 6.44 points or 0.14 per cent. The other two indices also ended in the red. The DS30, comprising blue chips lost 4.68 points or 0.27 per cent to close at 1,721.74 points. The DSE Shariah Index shed 1.55 points or 0.14 per cent to close at 1,060.15 points. DSE turnover improved to Tk 7.38 billion which was 16.77 per cent higher over the previous session’s value of Tk 6.32 billion. The losers took a lead over the gainers as out of 298 issues traded, 170 declined, 93 advanced and 35 remained unchanged on the DSE floor. Beximco Limited was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 658.12 million changing hands followed by MJL BD, BSRM Steels, Khulna Printing & Paper and ACI. Agni Systems Ltd was the day’s highest gainer, posting a rise of 9.40 per cent while IFIL Mutual Fund One was the day’s worst loser, slumping by 9.52 per cent. However, the port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) closed positive with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – gained 21.62 points to close at 8,581.03 points. Losers beat gainers 121 to 80, with 21 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 12.73 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover value of Tk 534.50 million.