Stocks further dip amid topsy-turvy trading

Stocks ended lower for the 2nd consecutive day on Monday amid topsy-turvy trading throughout the session as the investors stuck to cautious stance. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), ended at 4,914.71 points, shedding another 23.94 points or 0.48 per cent following previous day’s steep decline. The other two indices also closed in the red. The DS30, comprising blue chips, dropped 7.90 points or 0.43 per cent to 1,807.45. The DSE Shariah Index shed 9.85 points or 0.85 per cent to close at 1,147.99 points. The total turnover on the prime bourse of the country plunged to Tk 7.09 billion, registering a decline of 17.26 per cent over the previous day’s turnover of Tk 8.57 billion. The losers took a marginal lead over the gainers as out of 302 issues traded, 148 declined, 127 advanced and 27 remained unchanged. The total market capitalisation of the DSE stood at Tk 3,266.34b against Tk 3,275.29b in the previous session. The new issue -- Western Marine Shipyard – was the most traded stock for the 6th session with shares worth Tk 564.62 million changing hands followed by DESCO, BEDL, Keya Cosmetics and Lafarge Surma cement. Orion Infusion was the day’s highest gainer, posting a rise of 9.93 per cent while Western Marine Shipyard was the day’s worst loser, slumping by 9.96 per cent. The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), also closed lower with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – losing 48.85 points to stand at 9,280.24 points.