Stocks see decline

Stocks returned to the red on Thursday after three sessions' positive trend with sluggish trading activities as investors remained in cautious mood.The market started with a positive note, but could not sustain as session progressed. Eventually, DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) ended at 4,555.11 points, shedding 20.39 points or 0.44 per cent from previous session. The other two indices also closed in red. The DS30, comprising blue chips lost 11.78 points or 0.70 per cent to close at 1,666.00 points. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) went down by 1.98 points or 0.19 per cent to close at 1,012.92 points. Turnover value came down below Tk 3.50 billion again and amounted to Tk 3.48 billion which was 16.94 per cent lower compared to the previous session’s value of Tk 4.19 billion. The losers took a modest lead over the losers as out of 286 issues traded, 145 declined, 109 advanced and 32 issues closed unchanged on the DSE floor. GP became the top turnover leader for the third consecutive session with shares worth Tk 243.30 million changing hands followed by Meghna Petroleum, BSCCL, Matin Spinning and Lafarge Surma Cement. Eastern Cables was the day’s highest gainer; posting a rise of 9.99 per cent while ICB Second Mutual Fund  was the day’s worst losers, slumping by 8.32 per cent. The port city bourse -- Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended lower with its Selective Categories Index -- CSCX lost 49.51 points to stand at 8,757.60 points. Losers beat gainers 122 to 59, with 21 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 6.44 million shares and mutual fund units, turnover value of Tk 249.23 million.