Stocks kept the gaining streak for the second consecutive session on Monday as the buoyant investors continued their appetite on large-cap issues amid optimism.
DSEX, the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, went up by 16.30 points or 0.39 per cent to settle at 4,145 during the four hours trading.
Market operators said gradual reopening of the economy and the stock market regulator's assurance not to lift floor price restriction right now, led investors for buying shares.
Gradual reopening of the economy and static daily number of Covid-19 cases led investors to strike bargains on promising issues, said a merchant banker.
The securities regulator's hard stance on ensuring mandatory 2.0 per cent shareholding by each director of listed companies had a positive impact on the stock prices, he said.
The stock market regulator has recently asked 61 directors of 22 listed companies to ensure a minimum 2.0 per cent shares in their own companies within 45 days to continue their directorship.
The stock market regulator, in cooperation with the Bangladesh Bank, is inspiring banks to buy stocks at a lucrative price level, also encouraged investors, said a leading broker.
The central bank's recent directive on easing foreign investment and increase fund flow from the banking sector created a positive impact, he said.
The market is seemingly getting back the long-lost momentum, commented UCB Capital Management.
The gradual reopening of the economy and no major spike in daily Covid-19 infected cases led investors to take position in sector-wise stocks, said the UCB Capital.
Two other indices also ended higher. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, rose 3.20 points to finish at 1,400 and the DSE Shariah Index advanced 1.99 points to close at 965.
Turnover, another important indicator of the market, stood at Tk 4.37 billion on the country's prime bourse, which was 18 per cent higher than the previous day's turnover of Tk 3.71 billion.
General insurance, power, financial institutions, pharma and banking sectors gained, 4.20 per cent, 0.80 per cent, 0.50 per cent, 0.40 per cent and 0.40 per cent respectively.
Food and telecom sectors lost 2.10 per cent and 1.0 per cent respectively.
Most of the shares remained stuck at the trading. Of the issues traded, 160 remained unchanged while 117 issues advanced and 67 declined on the DSE floor.
A total number of 93,273 trades were executed in the day's trading session with a trading volume of 132.61 million shares and mutual fund units.
The market-cap on the premier bourse also rose to Tk 3,220 billion on Sunday, from Tk 3,217 billion in the previous session.
Khulna Power Company topped the turnover chart with shares worth Tk 165 million changing hands, closely followed by Beximco Pharma, Square Pharma, Pioneer Insurance and BATBC.
Agrani Insurance was the day's best performer, posting a gain of 10 per cent while Dacca Dyeing was the worst loser, losing 6.80 per cent.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange also ended higher with its All Shares Price Index (CASPI)-gaining 46 points to close at 11,796 and the Selective Categories Index - CSCX -rising 29 points to finish at 7,152.
Of the issues traded, 74 gained, 46 declined and 102 remained unchanged on the CSE.
The port city bourse traded 2.81 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover value of Tk 95 million.
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