Stocks edge up amid thin participation

Stocks edged higher Monday, the first trading session after five-day Eid holiday, as investors took position on lucrative stocks amid optimism.
However, the participation of investors was thin as many investors are yet to resume routine jobs after Eid vacation.
The market opened with a higher note, but slowed down in the mid-session, eventually closed marginally higher. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, settled at 4,866.75, gaining 13.46 points or 0.27 per cent.
The two other indices also closed in the green zone. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, rose 3.36 points or 0.18 per cent to finish at 1,863.72. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) gained 1.77 points or 0.14 per cent to end at 1,192.82.
Turnover, however, remained low and the total turnover amounted to Tk 3.95 billion, which was 8.52 per cent higher than the last session’s Tk 3.64 billion.
Gainers outpaced losers as out of issues traded 316 issues traded, 147 closed higher, 124 lower and 45 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.
Lafarge Surma Cement dominated the day’s turnover chart with shares of Tk 176.42 million changing hands followed by Saif Powertec, Beximco Pharma, IDLC Finance and BSRM Steels.
 Premier Cement was the day’s best performer, posting a rise of 19.08 per cent while Shaympur Sugar Mills was the day’s worst loser, plunging by 5.40 per cent.
 The port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange also closed higher with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – gained 23.27 points to end at 9,070.97.
 Losers, however, beat gainers 108 to 95, with 22 issues remained unchanged on the port city bourse that traded 6.97 million shares and mutual fund units with a value of Tk 243 million.
--RMC--