Stocks returned to green Wednesday, snapping three consecutive days of losses amid prolonged lacklustre performance.
Analysts said stocks edged higher as a section of investors showed buying appetite on fundamentally strong issues after three days sell-off while some followed cautious stance.
"Following the analysis of global stock market worries, investors were holding passive strategy and looking for fundamentally sound issues," said IDLC Investments, a merchant bank, in an analysis.
DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), edged up 12.72 points or 0.26 per cent to settle at 4,805.65.
The two other indices also edged higher. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, gained 5.05 points or 0.27 per cent to end at 1,837.97. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) advanced 5.35 points or 0.45 per cent to finish at 1,183.67.
Turnover, another important indicator of the market, came down to Tk 4.32 billion, which was 5.56 per cent lower than the previous day's Tk 4.56 billion.
"Activity declined as a major group of investors endured in the sideline amid indecisiveness and 'wait and see' stance," said International Leasing Securities, a stockbroker, in an analysis.
LankaBangla Securities, said, "Stocks are fading out the fear around the abrupt fall in index last few trading session".
The stockbroker noted that investors are watchful with monthly economic data coming in which might fetch shift in market tactics.
According to Sheltech Brokerage, miscellaneous led the top market cap gainers with 1.3 per cent gain, while mutual funds led the top market cap losers with 0.9 per cent loss.
Food and allied showed the highest turnover increase of 35.8 per cent while IT sector showed the highest turnover loss of 59.5 per cent, said the Sheltech Brokerage.
All the large cap sectors posted positive return with telecommunication saw the highest gain of 0.71 per cent followed by pharmaceuticals 0.57 per cent, cement 0.49 per cent.
Food and allied and NBFIs made thin gain of 0.38 per cent and 0.31 percent respectively. Banks also advanced by 0.11 per cent. Power closed flat in green with 0.06 per cent gain.
The gainers took a lead over the losers as out of issues traded 319 issues traded, 160 advanced, 106 declined and 53 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.
Pharmaceuticals, engineering and textiles issues attracted investors' most, grabbing 17 per cent, 15 per cent and 13 per cent of the day's total turnover.
Activities decreased in the major bourse where volume and trade were down 5.91 per cent and 0.14 per cent respectively. A total number of 0.099 million trades were executed with trading volume of 109.39 million securities.
The market capitalisation of the DSE stood at Tk 3,363.93 billion against Tk 3,353.25 billion in the previous session.
Square Phrma was remained the day's top turnover leader with shares of Tk 207 million changing hands followed by Islami Bank, Shahjibazar Power Company, Al-Haj Textile and IFAD Autos.
Delta Brac Housing Finance was the day's best performer, posting a rise of 8.29 per cent while First Bangladesh Fixed Income Fund was the day's worst loser, plunging by 5.33 per cent.
The port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed slightly higher with its Selective Categories Index - CSCX - gained 20.84 points to end at 8,961.87.
Gainers beat losers 122 to 84, with 40 issues remained unchanged on the port city bourse that traded 8.00 million shares and mutual fund units with a value of Tk 273.57 million.
babulfexpress@gmail.com
