Stocks edge up with low turnover

Stocks returned to the green zone on Thursday with falling turnover as the investors followed cautious stance. The market opened higher, but mid-session witnessed downturn. However, late hour buying helped to close marginally higher. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), settled at 4,856.96, gaining 4.88 points or 0.17 per cent. The two other indices also closed in the green. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, gained 3.30 points or 0.17 per cent to 1,851.27. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) rose 1.24 points or 0.10 per cent to end at 1,182.13. Turnover dropped to Tk4.24 billion, which was 14.34 per cent lower than the previous session’s Tk4.95 billion. The gainers took a modest lead over the losers as out of issues traded 320 issues traded, 150 closed higher, 128 lower and 42 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor. FAR Chemicals dominated the day’s turnover chart with shares of Tk376 million changing hands followed by Saif Powertec, Summit Alliance Port, Appollo Ispat and DESCO. AIBL First Mutual Fund was the day’s best performer, posting a rise of 10 per cent while ICB Fourth Mutual Fund was the day’s worst loser, plunging by 3.96 per cent. The port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange also closed slightly higher with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – gained 12.84 points to end at 9,048. Losers, however, beat gainers 114 to 108, with 25 issues remained unchanged on the port city bourse that traded 8.68 million shares and mutual fund units with a value of Tk265 million.

--Shuvo--