Ten top-traded companies captured more than 32 per cent transactions on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Sunday with Western Marine Shipyard topping the list for the second running session.
Market operators said the investors were active on Western Marine shares in continuation of the previous week amid a remour that the company will issue rights shares.
"Healthy earnings report for the third quarter (Q3) coupled with selling shares of sponsor-directors contributed to the company's becoming the turnover leader," said a stockbroker.
According to statistics available with the DSE, about 7.24 million shares of Western Marine were traded, generating a turnover of Tk 245 million. It was 6.46 per cent of the premier bourse's total transaction.
The company's share price traded between Tk 33.10 and Tk 34.40 each, before closing at Tk 34.10, gaining 2.71 per cent over the previous session.
In the last one year, the company's share traded between Tk 22 and Tk 50 each.
Western Marine's third quarter earnings per share (EPS) posted a 90.69 per cent growth to Tk 0.82 in January-March, 2018 quarter, against Tk 0.43 in the same period of the previous year.
In nine months, for July 2017-March 2018, the EPS was Tk 2.14 as against Tk 1.46 for the July 2016-March 2017.
On Sunday, Md Shah Alam, one of the directors of the company, informed that he completed the sale of 251,292 shares of the company at prevailing market price. Western Marine Services, one of the corporate sponsors of the company, also completed sale of its entire holding of 606,412 shares.
Western Marine, which was listed on the Dhaka bourse in 2014, paid 3.0 per cent cash and 12 per cent stock dividends for the year ended on June 30, 2017.
Apart from Western Marine, the most other active shares in terms of value included United Power, Beximco, Bangladesh Steel Re-rolling Mills, Queen South Textile, RD Food, BRAC Bank, Legacy Footwear, Sinobangla Industries and BBS Cables.
United Power followed next with shares worth Tk 190 million changing hands. The power generation company's share price fell 3.41 per cent to close at Tk 212.50 each.
Beximco was third on the turnover list with shares worth Tk 167 million changing hands. The company's share price closed at Tk 29.30 each, advancing 0.34 per cent over the previous day.
Bangladesh Steel Re-rolling Mills clinched the fourth spot, with shares worth Tk 117 million changing hands. The company's share closed at Tk 109.90 each, losing 1.87 per cent.
Queen South Textile emerged fifth with shares worth Tk 92 million changing hands. The recently listed textile company's share price fell 2.75 per cent to close at Tk 42.40 each.
RD Food also saw its shares worth Tk 88 million change hands. The company's share price closed at Tk 19.20, advancing 2.67 per cent over the previous day.
The turnover of BRAC Bank was Tk 87 million. Each share of the bank closed at Tk 80.20, rising 2.03 per cent.
Legacy Footwear featured a turnover of Tk 80 million. The company's share price rose 2.65 per cent to close at Tk 61.90 each.
The turnover of Sinobangla Industries was Tk 77 million. The company's share closed at Tk 52.80, gaining 1.73 per cent over the previous session.
The BBS Cables also found its way to the top ten turnover chart, with shares worth Tk 75 million changing hands. The company's share price fell 1.83 per cent to close at 80.30 each.
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