The benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) exceeded the 4,900 points threshold again on Monday as bargain hunters continued their buying binge on sector-wise issues based on latest corporate declarations.
DSEX, the key index of the DSE, went up by 21.69 points or 0.44 per cent to settle at 4,918.The core index crossed the 4,900-mark after five trading days.
The benchmark index added more than 80 points in the past three straight sessions.
The DSE Shariah Index also advanced 1.31 points to close at 1,112. However, the DS30 index, comprising blue chips, lost 1.03 points to finish at 1,698.
Market operators said investors continued their buying appetite on sector-wise stocks amid a growing confidence in the market riding on regulatory moves to restore discipline in the country's capital market.
A merchant banker said lower returns from the money market, lucrative price levels of securities, strong regulatory actions against wrongdoers and positive macro-economic indicators continued to help buoy the market.
He noted that investors were active on stocks which declared expected year-end dividends and quarter-end earnings.
Turnover, a crucial indicator of the market, stood at Tk 8.92 billion, which was 14 per cent higher than the previous day's turnover of Tk 7.85 billion.
The investors' activity was mostly centered on general insurance, grabbing 34 per cent of the day's total turnover, followed by pharma with 12 per cent and engineering 8.0 per cent.
EBL Securities said investors' active participation, particularly on stocks declaring satisfactory dividend and quarterly earnings took the market on upward trajectory.
The stockbroker noted that insurance sector seized all the shine since most of the investors are rushing to get a hold of some selective scrips from the most hyped sector due to book capital gain brought by positive change in their financial statements.
The market closed higher riding on the news that the securities regulator has allowed the listed companies to recommend and distribute interim cash dividend from retained earnings, commented International Leasing Securities.
Among the major sectors- financial institutions, banking and textile sector witnessed highest gain, gaining 2.5 per cent, 1.60 per cent and 1.10 per cent respectively.
The general insurance, mutual fund, engineering and telecom sectors lost 3.3 per cent, 2.9 per cent, 0.50 per cent and 0.20 per cent respectively.
Gainers took a modest lead over the losers as out of 357 issues traded, 159 ended higher, 144 closed lower while 54 issues remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.
A total number of 180,146 trades were executed in the day's trading session with a trading volume of 337.32 million shares and mutual fund units.
The market capitalisation of DSE rose to Tk 3,956 billion on Monday, from Tk 3,950 billion in the previous day.
BeximcoPharma topped the turnover list with shares worth Tk 574 million changing hands, closely followed by Asia Pacific Insurance, Global Insurance, Bangladesh National Insurance and Beximco.
Fu-Wang Ceramic was the day's best performer, posting a gain of 15.23 per cent while Express Insurance was the worst loser, losing 12.73 per cent despite the company declaring a 5.0 per cent interim cash dividend.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange also edged higher with its All Shares Price Index (CASPI)-gaining 85 points to close at 14,067 while the Selective Categories Index - CSCX advancing 50 points to close at 8,460.
Of the issues traded, 132 advanced, 89 declined and 39 remained unchanged on the CSE.
The port city bourse traded 14.79 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover value of Tk 505 million.
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