Stocks see marginal gain

Stocks witnessed marginal gain Wednesday for the second running session as opportunist investors went for late hours buying spree on lucrative issues despite deepening political deadlock in the country.
DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) went up by 11.58 points or 0.24 per cent to close at 4,668.05 points.
The two other indices also closed in green. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips gained 2.78 points or 0.16 per cent to close at 1,726.40 points. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) advanced 2.99 points or 0.27 per cent to close at 1,105.30 points.
Trading at DSE remained sluggish with total turnover amounted to Tk 2.03 billion, registering an increase of 4.64 per cent over the over the previous session's value of Tk 1.94 billion.
The investors' attention was mostly focused on power, pharma and banks - the sectors that accounted for 16 per cent, 15 per cent and 11 per cent respectively of the day's total turnover value.
"The market opened with negative tune in the morning falling roughly 36 points, but started to surge in later with some buy pressure fuelled by opportunist investors," said International Leasing Securities said in an analysis.
However, market participants' still endured on the sideline as indecisiveness and cautious sentiment sustained amid ongoing political deadlock, said the International Leasing.
IDLC Investments said: "Opportunistic investors were trying to exploit the undervalued investment alternatives persisted Wednesday, managing to push indices to the positive area".
"Index managed to extend gain with hazy starting of the day. Congenial money market indicators for capital market are coming up to even out the growing tense in market," said LankaBangla Securities.
However, investors are still showing cautious nod which is evident by low daily turnover, said the stock broker.
Among the major sectors, power posted the highest loss of 1.06 per cent. Cement closed down by 0.44 per cent.
All the other major sectors closed up. NBFIs posted a hefty gain of 3.17 per cent.  Food and allied sector also posted decent gain of 1.41 per cent. Telecommunication, pharmaceuticals and banks appreciated by 0.94 per cent, 0.56 per cent and 0.26 per cent respectively.
The gainers took a modest lead over the losers out of 305 issues traded, 143 advanced, 105 declined and 57 remained unchanged on the DSE floor.
Activities increased in the major bourse where trade was up by 3.79 per cent, but volume was down 1.06 per cent. A total number of 0.059 million trades were executed with trading volume of 50.84 million securities.
The market capitalisation on DSE stood at Tk 3,165.68 billion against Tk 3,152.99 billion in the previous session.
Titas Gas was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 115.35 million changing hands followed by GP, Aamra Technologies, Lafarge Surma Cement and ICB.
Libra Infusion was the day's top gainer, posting a rise of 7.08 per cent while ICB was the day's worst loser, plunging 89.41 per cent following its price adjustment after record date with new face value of Tk. 10 each and the new adjusted open price of the shares will be Tk. 135.60 per share.
The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended in positive with its Selective Categories Index - CSCX - gained 35.62 points to close at 8,678.70 points.
Gainers beat losers 109 to 81, with 39 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 5.32 million shares and mutual fund units, turnover value of Tk 155.51 million.
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