Turnover exceeds Tk 5.0 billion-mark

Stocks extended the winning streak for the third running session Monday as investors were enthusiastic following the Finance Minister's positive remarks on stock market.
Market operators said the investors were gradually regaining their confidence during the last couple of days following the Finance Minister's positive remarks on capital market.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Saturday said the share market is not a place for speculations and those who think so are its enemies.
"The present government has been able to strengthen the base of the country's share market. Now it's time for its further development," he said while addressing the 'Investors and Entrepreneurs Conference and Investment Education Fair, 2018 in Sylhet.
"The market ended higher amid increased participation of investors as enthusiastic investors were active on sector specific heavyweight issues like Square Pharmaceuticals and Grameenphone," said an analyst at a leading brokerage firm.
The largest market GP's share price surged 1.37 per cent to close at Tk 494.40 while share price of second largest market cap company Square Pharma soared 3.05 per cent to settle at Tk 333.80.
The market opened on positive note and the upward trend sustained till end of the session with no sign of reversal.
It finally ended nearly 48 points higher.
DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), reached at 6,195, advancing 47.81 points or 0.78 per cent over the previous day.
"The market observed a vibrant session supported by large-cap movement with increased turnover," commented AT Capital Partners, an asset management company, in an analysis.
The two other indices also ended higher. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, soared 25.14 points or 1.11 per cent to finish at 2,285. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) also gained 18.46 points or 1.30 per cent to settle at 1,428.
The market activities also crossed Tk 5.0 billion-mark after 12-session and the total turnover rose to Tk 5.02 billion, which was 46 per cent higher than the previous day's turnover of Tk 3.44 billion.
According to International Leasing Securities, some investors were taking fresh positions in pharmaceutical, telecom, financial institution and engineering sector stocks helped the market ended higher.
Among the major sectors, pharmaceuticals posted the highest gain of 2.1 per cent riding on Square Pharma, followed by telecommunication with 1.40 per cent, non-bank financial institutions 1.0 per cent, engineering 0.5 per cent, banking 0.30 per cent and food & allied 0.30 per cent while fuel & power remained flat.
The gainers took a modest lead over the losers as out of 333 issues traded, 150 nudged higher, 126 drifted lower and 57 issues remained unchanged on the DSE.
Square Pharmaceuticals topped the day's turnover chart for the third day in a row with 1.86 million shares worth Tk 618 million changing hands, followed by IFAD Autos, Grameenphone, Golden Harvest Agro Industries and BBS Cables.
Usmania Glass was the day's best performer, posting a gain of 9.90 per cent while Deshbandhu Polymer was the day's worst loser, plunging by 5.02 per cent.
Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended higher with CSE All Share Price Index - CAPSI - advancing 164 points to finish at 19118.
The Selective Categories Index - CSCX - also soared 102 points to settle at 11,543.
Gainers beat losers as 117 issues closed higher, 81 ended lower and 40 issues remained unchanged on the CSE.
The second bourse of the country traded 5.66 million shares and mutual fund units worth more than Tk 220 million in turnover.

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