Stocks inch up,turnover down

Stocks inched up marginally on Wednesday with turnover declined slightly as investors concentrated on sector-specific movements amid cautious trading. The market started with an upward and the positive trend continued till the market closure amid modest see-saw. Eventually, DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) ended at 4,411.17 points, gaining 9.28 points or 0.21 per cent from previous session. The other two indices outperformed the market. The DS30, comprising blue chips gained 14.96 points or 0.92 per cent to close at 1,639.41 points. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) went up by 3.76 points or 0.37 per cent to close at 1,016.67 points. The total turnover at DSE came down to Tk 4.37 billion, registering a decline of 3.32 per cent from previous session’s Tk 4.52 billion. The gainers took a modest lead over the losers as out of 295 issues traded, 151 advanced, 105 declined and 39 closed unchanged on the DSE floor.
Lafarge Surma Cement was the day’s topped turnover chart for the fourth session with shares worth Tk 404.57 million changing hands followed by GP, Square Phrma, MJL BD and BSRM Steels. Progressive Life Insurance was the day’s highest gainer, posting a rise of 8.98 per cent while Lafarge Surma Cement was the day’s worst loser, slumping by 7.74 per cent. The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed marginally higher with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – gained 49.86 points to close at 8,410.21 points. Gainers beat losers 98 to 85, with 24 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 7.41 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover value of Tk 276.18 million.