Stocks posted slight rise Monday for the fifth running sessions as investors continued to buy lucrative stocks despite ongoing political turmoil across the country.
DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) went up further by 10.96 points or 0.23 per cent to close at 4,712.56 points. DSEX added 94.13 points in the past five consecutive sessions.
The two other indices also ended in green. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips gained 6.00 points or 0.34 per cent to close at 1,749.67 points. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) advanced 2.59 points or 0.23 per cent to close at 1,120.56 points.
The total turnover amounted to Tk 2.68 billion, registering an increase of 21.22 per cent over the over the previous session's value of Tk 2.21 billion.
The investors' activity mostly focused on engineering, pharma and power - the sectors that accounted for 21.5 per cent, 18.2 per cent and 12.3 per cent respectively of the day's total turnover.
International Leasing Securities said: "The market continued its positive trend for the fifth consecutive sessions as investors are attracted to the fundamentally strong shares".
Price appreciation on large-cap stocks help the board based index to endure in green. However, participation from the investors remained poor amid ongoing gloomy economic outlook, said the International Leasing.
LankaBangla Securities said: "Market managed to maintain 4,700-level amid consolidation, supported by large and mid-cap stocks".
"Investors' participation is improving gradually amid cautious trading," said the stock broker.
Zenith Investments said: "Stocks are now showing signs of minute recovery, but fail to boost confidence among the investors".
The overall trade volume still remains low where much of the contribution goes to the political uncertainty, said the Zenith Investments.
"The market right now requires huge support from the institutional investors, who refuse to make any significant move until they receive any assurance from ongoing political turmoil," the Zenith analysis added.
Major sectors posted mixed performance. NBFIs posted 0.89 per cent gain and pharmaceuticals went up by 0.75 per cent. Power and cement posted skimpy returns of 0.18 per cent and 0.12 per cent respectively.
Food and allied and banks retraced 0.63 per cent and 0.36 per cent respectively. Telecommunication closed flat in red.
The gainers took a modest lead over the losers out of 311 issues traded, 143 advanced, 119 declined and 49 remained unchanged on the DSE floor.
Activities increased in the major bourse where volume and trade were up by 8.56 per cent and 3.38 per cent respectively. A total number of 0.075 million trades were executed with trading volume of 62.91 million securities.
The market capitalisation on DSE stood at Tk 3,188.43 billion against Tk 3,185.02 billion in the previous session.
The newly listed IFAD Autos was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 284.78 million changing hands followed by ACI, MJL BD, Square Pharma and GP.
ACI Formulations was also the day's top gainer, posting a rise of 6.13 per cent while IFAD Autos was the day's worst loser, plunging 14.14 per cent following its half yearly earnings declaration. The company's profit fell 39 per cent year-on-year in July-December'14 period.
The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended in positive with its Selective Categories Index - CSCX - gained 22.86 points to close at 8,743.97 points.
Gainers beat losers 102 to 91, with 37 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 6.43 million shares and mutual fund units, turnover value of Tk 229.79 million.
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