Stocks slip into red after six sessions

Stocks slipped into the red Sunday after sixth sessions' gaining streak with turnover dropped significantly as investors booked marginal profit. The market started with a positive note, but could not sustain. At the end of the session, DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) dipped below 4,700 points mark and ended at 4,666.41 points, shedding 36.04 points or 0.76 per cent. The other two indices also closed lower. The DS30, comprising blue chips lost 14.95 points or 0.86 per cent to close at 1,705.23 points. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) lost 5.76 points or 0.55 per cent to close at 1,034.47 points. Turnover value on DSE came down to Tk 4.33 billion, which was 35.66 per cent lower from previous session’s two and a half month high value of Tk 6.73 billion. The losers took a lead over the gainers as out of 295 issues traded, 166 declined, 98 advanced and 31 issues closed unchanged on the DSE floor. GrameenPhone (GP) became the top turnover leader for the third running session with shares worth Tk 246.92 million changing hands followed by Meghna Petroleum, Lafarge Surma Cement, Olympic Industries and Southeast Bank. Eastern Insurance was the day’s highest gainer; posting a rise of 8.53 per cent while SIBL was the day’s worst losers, slumping by 9.85 per cent. The port city bourse - Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed lower with its Selective Categories Index --- CSCX lost 87.33 points to stand at 8,997.80 points. Losers beat gainers 137 to 67, with 13 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 6.78 million shares and mutual fund units, turnover value of Tk 302.20 million.