Stocks ended in green territory Thursday for the third running sessions as value stocks lured investors with attractive price offer despite ongoing political unrest across the country.
DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) went up further by 16.98 points or 0.36 per cent to close at 4,685.03 points. In the last three consecutive trading sessions, DSEX added around 67 points.
The two other indices also closed in green. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips gained 6.81 points or 0.39 per cent to close at 1,733.22 points. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) advanced 4.91 points or 0.44 per cent to close at 1,110.21 points.
Trading at DSE improved compared to the last four sessions of the week. The total turnover stood at Tk 2.61 billion, registering an increase of 28.3 per cent over the over the previous session's value of Tk 2.03 billion.
Engineering sector was the day's most active sector, capturing 35.7 per cent of the day's total turnover, thanks to the newly listed IFAD Autos, followed by power 9.5 per cent and pharma 9.0 per cent.
"Stocks ended in green amidst increased participation from the investors. The market's participation increased by 28.3 per cent riding on newly listed IFAD Autos," said International Leasing Securities in an analysis.
The investors' activity was mostly focused on large-cap sectors and newly listed scrip. However, turnover remained low as cautious stance sustained among the investors amid ongoing political unrest, said the International Leasing.
LankaBangla Securities said: "Market began in red zone, but investors flocked to as value stocks lured them with attractive price offer".
Corporate earnings played a strong support for market Thursday. In last three trading sessions, market ended in green and index seems to consolidate at this level before pursuing a new direction, said the stock broker.
"Despite no positive developments in political scenario, market kept trying to reemerge from ashes one step at a time," said IDLC Investments.
The prime bourse observed a busy session trying to recoup some gain. Prime index DSEX advanced 17 points amid significant increase in activities, it added.
Among the major sectors NBFIs yielded negative return of 1.96 per cent and food and allied sector closed flat in red with a loss of 0.04 per cent.
All the other large cap sectors appreciated. Pharmaceuticals and cement advanced by 0.78 per cent and 0.52 per cent respectively. Telecommunication and power also went up by 0.20 per cent and 0.18 per cent respectively. Banks gained 0.13 per cent.
The gainers took a modest lead over the losers out of 306 issues traded, 155 advanced, 104 declined and 47 remained unchanged on the DSE floor.
Activities increased in the major bourse (DSE) where volume and trade were up by 18.91 per cent and 82.15 per cent respectively. A total number of 0.109 million trades were executed with trading volume of 60.45 million securities.
The market capitalisation on DSE stood at Tk 3,165.68 billion against Tk 3,152.99 billion in the previous session.
IFAD Autos, which made debut Thursday, was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 740.09 million changing hands followed by GP, MJL BD, Summit Port Alliance and ACI Limited.
Newly listed IFAD Autos was also the day's top gainer, posting a rise of 126 per cent from its offer price while Midas Financing was the day's worst loser, plunging 8.00 per cent.
The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended in positive with its Selective Categories Index - CSCX - gained 28.62 points to close at 8,707.33 points.
Gainers beat losers 107 to 85, with 33 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 7.70 million shares and mutual fund units, turnover value of Tk 318.84 million.
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