Stocks ended almost flat on Wednesday as investors were active on the both sides of trading fence amid debut trading a new issue - Walton Hi-Tech Industries.
DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), settled at 4,972, gaining 2.02 points or 0.04 per cent, after losing 146 points in the past four consecutive sessions.
Market analysts said the cautious investors continued booking profit on majors sectors' issues which saw substantial gain in the past few weeks while optimistic investors took position on lucrative stocks, taking the index to flat zone.
The market ended flat as sell pressure eased to some extent after debut of Walton Hi-Tech Industries, said a leading broker.
He noted that revised margin loan policy by the stock market regulator held back a section of investors to put fresh stake in stocks as the regulator set maximum margin loan limit in line with the DSE core index.
Two other indices ended lower. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, lost 5.85 points to finish at 1,708 and the DSE Shariah Index saw a fractional loss of 0.91 point to close at 1,125.
Turnover, a crucial indicator of the market, stood at Tk8.82 billion, which was 21 per cent higher than the previous day's one month's lowest turnover of Tk7.29 billion.
According to International Leasing Securities, the bargain hunters showed their buying interest from the opening of the session which continued till the closure but some risk-averse investors booked some gain during the session.
The opportunist investors' buoyancy in general insurance, life insurance and telecom sectors stocks helped the key index to close in green, said the stockbroker.
Major sectors showed mixed performances. Financial institutions, banking, power and pharma sectors faced correction while engineering, insurance, telecom and food sectors witnessed price appreciation.
The financial institutions sector lost 0.80 per cent, followed by banking with 0.70 per cent, power 0.70 per cent and pharma 0.30 per cent.
Engineering sector posted the highest gain of 15.5 per cent riding on debutant Walton Hi-Tech, followed by life insurance with 6.70 per cent, general insurance 5.0 per cent, telecom 2.10 per cent and food 0.30 per cent.
Gainers outnumbered the losers as out of 356 issues traded, 174 closed higher, 137 ended lower while 45 issues remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.
A total number of 176,741 trades were executed in the day's trading session with a trading volume of 343.61 million shares and mutual fund units.
The market-cap on the premier bourse rose to Tk 3,892 billion on Wednesday, from Tk 3,769 billion in the previous session.
Beximco Pharma topped the turnover chart with shares worth Tk 280 million changing hands, closely followed by Delta Brac Housing Finance, Beximco, Rupali Insurance and Sandhani Insurance.
The insurance sector continued to dominate the gainer's chart as top 10 gainers were from insurance sector companies.
Delta Life Insurance was the best performer, posting a gain of 9.95 per cent while BD Welding was the worst loser for the second straight session, losing 8.29 per cent.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange also ended flat with its All Shares Price Index (CASPI)-gaining 11 points to close at 14,181 while the Selective Categories Index - CSCX losing 1.60 points to close at 8,512.
Of the issues traded, 136 advanced, 112 advanced and 46 remained unchanged on the CSE.
The port city bourse traded 13 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover value of Tk212 million.
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