Stocks slip in red for second day

Stocks slipped in the red for second running session on Wednesday with turnover rose slightly as investors continued to book short-term profit amid cautious stance. The market opened with positively yet it failed to sustain the momentum. Eventually, DSEX, the prime index of the DSE ended at 4,401.00 points, shedding 17.79 points or 0.40 per cent from previous session. The DS30, comprising blue chips lost 0.27 points or 0.01 per cent to close at 1,625.04 points. However, the DSE Shariah Index (DSES) managed to close positive with gaining 5.19 points or 0.51 per cent to close at 1,008.52 points. The total turnover at DSE stood at Tk 4.08 billion, registering an increase of 4.08 per cent over the previous session’s value of Tk 3.92 billion. The losers took a strong lead over the gainers as out of 297 issues traded, 201 declined, 74 advanced and 22 closed unchanged on the DSE floor. GP continued to top turnover leader for the fifth sessions with shares worth Tk 386.62 million changing hands followed by Lafarge Surma Cement, BSRM Steels, MJL BD and Meghna Petroleum. Aramit was the day’s highest gainer, posting a rise of 8.73 per cent while Wata Chemicals was the day’s worst loser, slumping by 8.32 per cent following the news that the securities regulator formed a probe body to investigate its ‘unusual’ share price rise on June 2. The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended lower with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – lost 68.98 points to close at 8,366.93 points. Losers beat gainers 151 to 45, with 25 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 7.69 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover value of Tk 698.82 billion.