Turnover on Dhaka Stock Exchange rose to its highest since December 30 after investors bought heavily into the market hoping that stocks will continue to gain.
Turnover on the country’s premier bourse stood at Tk 1,683 crore, up from the previous day’s Tk 1,480. DSE had its previous best transaction of shares worth Tk 1,783 crore on December 30 last year.
The benchmark general index of Dhaka Stock Exchange, DGEN, rose 15 points or 0.23 percent to end the day at 6,578. DGEN advanced in 17 sessions out of the last 19 sessions, gaining 15.68 percent.
On the port city’s bourse, the selective categories index of Chittagong Stock Exchange, CSCX, added 50 points or 0.42 percent, to close at 11,928.
The day started with a bull-run that sustained through the first hour and the prime index started to go down on profit-taking later.
The turnover clocked the highest for this year, reflecting the growing confidence of investors, said a market insider.
Bourses gained for the last couple of sessions due to the active participation of small and institutional investors and an increased flow of money, he added.
Altogether 263 securities traded on the DSE floor. Advancers lagged behind decliners 120 to 137, with six remaining unchanged. The total market capitalisation reached 304,437 crore at the end of the week.
The banking sector gained 0.99 percent, making 30.04 percent of the total market capitalisation, non-bank financial institutions 0.19 percent and pharmaceuticals closed flat.
Grameenphone, which represents the telecoms sector, gained 0.45 percent.
Mutual funds lost 2.81 percent and eight of them featured on the top ten losers’ list.
Dhaka Dyeing was the top loser following the rejection of their rights offer by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
United Commercial Bank topped the turnover leaders with 95.56 lakh shares worth Tk 58.64 crore changing hands.
The other turnover leaders were United Airways, Beximco, Bextex, MI Cement Factory, One Bank, MJL Bangladesh, City Bank, RN Spinning Mills and Social Islami Bank.
Ocean Containers Ltd was the biggest gainer of the day, posting 8.15 percent rise of its share price.
-With The Daily Star input
