Top 10 companies captured for more than 23 per cent transaction of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Thursday, with Square Pharmaceuticals topping the chart.
Market insiders said the investors were active in buying Square Pharmaceuticals shares, taking advantage of lucrative price level, as the company's share price eroded 3.57 per cent or Tk 11.30 each in the past seven consecutive sessions.
According to DSE statistics, about 566,273 shares of Square Pharma were traded, generating a turnover worth nearly Tk 174 million. It was 3.70 per cent of the premier bourse's total transaction.
The second largest market-cap company's share price traded between Tk 304.30 and Tk 314 each, before closing at Tk 310, gaining 1.70 per cent over the previous session.
The company's consolidated earnings per share posted a 20.1 per cent growth in six months for July-December, 2017 period to Tk 7.95, which was Tk 6.62 for the same period in the previous year.
The board of directors of Square Pharma, which was listed on the Dhaka bourse in 1995, disbursed final 35 per cent cash and 7.50 per cent stock dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2017.
The board has also approved Tk 2.02 billion for BMRE, capital machineries and lands for future expansion.
Apart from Square Pharma, the most other active shares in terms of value included BRAC Bank, Beximco, LankaBangla Finance, UCB, Mercantile Bank, IFAD Autos, City Bank, Grameenphone and Olympic Industries.
BRAC Bank came next with shares worth Tk 172 million changing hands. The bank's share price closed at Tk 97.20 each, gaining 4.85 per cent over the previous session.
Beximco was the third with shares of Tk 164 million changing hands. The company's share price soared 9.95 per cent to close at Tk 24.3 each. It was also the day's top gainer.
LankaBangla clinched the fourth spot with shares worth Tk 117 million changing hands. The company's share price closed at 29.40 each, gaining 7.30 per cent over the previous day.
UCB emerged as fifth with shares of Tk 91 million changing hands. The bank's share price closed at Tk 17.80 each, losing 3.26 per cent over the previous session.
The turnover of Mercantile Bank was Tk 88 million. The bank's share price advanced 1.42 per cent to close at Tk 21.40 each.
IFAD Autos was the sixth with shares worth Tk 77 million changing hands. The company's share price closed at Tk 118 each, advancing 0.51 per cent.
City Bank saw its shares worth more than Tk 69 million changed hands. The bank's share price rose 2.06 per cent to close at Tk 39.60 each.
The turnover of Grameenphone was Tk 67 million. The lone listed mobile phone company's share price closed at Tk 462 each, edging up by 0.08 per cent.
Olympic Industries was also included in the top ten turnover chart with shares worth Tk 59 million changing hands. The company's share price advanced 3.77 per cent to close at Tk 275 each.
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