Dhaka stocks ended a five-day losing streak on Thursday after the Dhaka Stock Exchange Wednesday evening had scrapped howla charge, charge per trade, to reduce investors’ trading cost that rose since the introduction of the lot-free trading system at the bourse on December 11.
The DSE key index, DSEX, closed at 4,856.41 points, adding 0.38 per cent or 18.49 points.
Turnover at the bourse, however, declined to Tk 231.32 crore compared with that of Tk 284.53 crore in the previous trading session.
Investors became optimistic after the DSE’s decision over the trading charge, stockbrokers said.
The bourse, however, increased its transaction charge — laga charge — by 0.01 per cent to 0.03 per cent of total transaction made by an investor to keep its earnings unchanged.
Stockbrokers said the turnover at the bourse declined on the day as investors were yet to feel comfortable with the new trading system that did not contain any ticker for share prices.
On the other hand, investors mostly focused on the small- and mid-capitalised stocks as big investors are yet to increase participation on the trading floor, they said.
Small capitalised stocks gained 4.86 per cent on the day.
DS30, the blue-chip index of the bourse, increased by 0.23 per cent, or 4.16 points, to close at 1,792.86 points.
The Shariah index of the DSE, DSES, finished at 1,144.83 points, adding 0.61 per cent or 6.95 points.
Of the 310 shares and mutual funds traded on the day, 172 advanced, 97 declined and 41 remained unchanged.
‘Initial attempt of the market to recover ended subdued as investors balked to price scrips in higher side,’ IDLC Investments said in its daily market commentary.
‘Rather their attention remained scattered in multiple stocks,’ it said.
‘Index moved sharply higher in early trading after moving down all week long,’ LanakaBangla Securities said in its daily market analysis.
‘Stocks have restored some ground and remained mostly positive,’ it said.
Quasem Drycells led the turnover leaders with its shares worth Tk 8.26 crore changing hands.
Fu Wang Foods, RAK Ceramics, Square Pharmaceuticals, Agni Systems, Tung Hai Knitting, Beximco Pharma, Lafarge Surma Cement, Keya Cosmetics and Summit Alliance Port were among the other turnover leaders.
Eastern Insurance gained the most with a 6.07-per cent increase in its share price, while Shyampur Sugar Mills was the worst loser on the day, shedding 7.31 per cent.
-With New Age input
