Stocks return to green amid shutdown

Stocks returned to the green territory today (Monday) after three sessions’ fall as investors took position on selected large-cap stocks despite country-wide shutdown enforced by BNP led 20-party alliance. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) went up marginally by 12.82 points or 0.26 per cent to close at 4,814.16 points from the previous session. The DS30, comprising blue chips gained 1.12 points or 0.06 per cent to close at 1,780.59 points. However, the DSE Shariah Index dropped 1.07 points or 0.09 per cent to close at 1,136.83 points. Turnover improved slightly, but remained below Tk 2.00 billion level. The total turnover amounted to Tk 1.89 billion, registering an increase of 21.15 per cent over the previous session’s value of Tk 1.56 billion. The gainers took a lead over the losers as out of 309 issues traded, 176 advanced, 84 declined and 49 remained unchanged on the DSE floor. Lafarge Surma Cement was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 97.09 million changing hands followed by DESCO, MJL BD, GP and Beximco Pharma. Prime Life Insurance was the day’s top gainer, posting a rise of 8.00 per cent while Dula Mia Cotton was the day’s worst loser, plunging 6.49 per cent. The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed in the green with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – gained 46.05 points to close at 8,991.43 points. Gainers beat losers 153 to 55, with 36 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 4.75 million shares and mutual fund units, turnover value of Tk 152.04 million.