Stocks end higher despite hartal

Stocks ended higher Thursday after remaining flat in the previous session as optimistic investors went on buying spree despite countrywide hartal enforced by the Jamaat-e-Islami. The market opened with a higher note and continued till end of the session. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), crossed the 4,500-mark and settled at 4,531.62, gaining 34.94 points or 0.78 per cent. The two other indices also closed higher. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, rose 14.72 points or 0.86 per cent to 1,721.06. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) advanced 9.53 points or 0.88 per cent to finish at 1,091.51. DSE turnover also improved to Tk 4.03 billion, which was 16.13 per cent higher than the previous day’s Tk 3.47 billion. The gainers took a strong lead over the losers as out of 303 traded issues, 200 closed higher, 60 lower and 43 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor. IFAD Autos was the day’s top turnover chart with shares of Tk 232 million changing hands followed by Beximco Pharma, Olympic Industries, Titas Gas Gas and Saif Powertec. The Peninsula Chittagong was the day’s best performer, posting a rise of 10 per cent while Fu-Wang Ceramic was the day’s worst loser, plunging 7.20 per cent. The port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) ended higher with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – gaining 66.53points to end at 8,416.69. Gainers beat losers 157 to 44, with 29 issues remaining unchanged on the port city bourse that traded 8.72 million shares and mutual fund units with a value of Tk 266 million.
--Shuvo--