The key index of the prime bourse on Sunday crossed the 4,100-mark after nearly five months, as the buoyant investors showed their appetite on large-cap issues amid optimism.
DSEX, the core index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, went up by 48.13 points or 1.18 per cent to settle at 4,129 during the four hours trading.
It was the highest level of DSEX since March 12, 2020, although trading was closed for two months (March 26 to May 30) due to government holidays to flatten the spread of deadly Covid-19 virus.
Market operators said gradual reopening of the economy and the stock market regulator's assurance not to lift floor price restriction until the market got stable, led investors for buying shares at possible lowest prices.
Gradual reopening of the economy and static number of Covid-19 cases led investors to strike bargains on promising issues, commented UCB Capital, in its regular market analysis.
The investors showed optimism on sector specific large-cap stocks like British American Tobacco, Square Pharma and GP.
The large-cap BATBC's share price jumped 3.73 per cent, followed by Square Pharma with 3.49 per cent and GP share soared 2.91 per cent.
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, said a merchant banker.
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.
Two other indices also ended higher. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, rose 23.08 points to finish at 1,397 and the DSE Shariah Index advanced 17.53 points to close at 963.
Turnover, another important indicator of the market, stood at Tk 3.71 billion on the country's prime bourse, which was 42 per cent higher than the previous day's turnover of Tk 2.62 billion.
Most of the shares remained stuck at the trading. Of the issues traded, 172 remained unchanged while 116 issues advanced and 58 declined on the DSE floor.
A total number of 79,599 trades were executed in the day's trading session with a trading volume of 7.48 million shares and mutual fund units.
The market-cap on the premier bourse also rose to Tk 3,217 billion on Sunday, from Tk 3,175 billion in the previous session.
Beximco Pharma topped the turnover chart with shares worth Tk 200 million changing hands, closely followed by Square Pharma, Grameenphone, BATBC and Pioneer Insurance.
Pragati Insurance was the day's best performer, posting a gain of 13.81 per cent following its corporate declaration of 22 per cent cash dividend while Shympur Sugar Mills was the worst loser, losing 7.48 per cent.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange also ended higher with its All Shares Price Index (CASPI)-soaring 127 points to close at 11,749 and the Selective Categories Index - CSCX -rising 78 points to finish at 7,122.
Of the issues traded, 75 gained, 29 declined and 98 remained unchanged on the CSE.
The port city bourse traded 2.75 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover value of Tk 78 million.
Meanwhile, Sonali Paper & Board Mills resumed trading Sunday on the main boards on the bourses under 'Z' category, after remaining in the OTC market since 2009, subject to one year lock-in to be imposed on the shares of the company's existing directors.
Each share of the company traded between Tk 273 and Tk 296.80, before closing at Tk 296.80 on the DSE, soaring 8.72 per cent.
Its share also closed at Tk 296.80 on the CSE, gaining 8.72 per cent.
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