Dhaka stocks break losing spell

Dhaka stocks edged higher Thursday, snapping a week-long downward trend, after witnessing volatility throughout the session.

The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) went up by 6.90 points or 0.15 per cent to settle at 4,520.87. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, advanced 2.64 points or 0.15 per cent to 1,719.74.

However, the DSE Shariah Index (DSES) shed a fractional of 0.12 points or 0.01 per cent to close at 1,090.59. Meanwhile, the investors continued to lose their appetite for shares of Regent Textile that entered into its third trading day, sending its stock prices 9.1 down to Tk 21.1 a share.

However, trading activities continued to remain low as the DSE turnover stood at Tk 2.86 billion, which was 11.72 per cent lower than the previous session’s Tk 3.24 billion. The gainers took a modest lead over the losers as out of 319 traded issues, 140 closed higher, 131 lower and 48 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.

Beximco Pharma dominated the turnover chart for the third running sessions with share worth Tk 193 million changing hands followed by Quasem Drycells, Square Pharma, Lafarge Surma Cement and Regent Textile. Apex Spinning was the day’s best performer, posting a rise of 9.93 per cent while Tallu Spinning was the day’s worst loser, plunging by 14.72 per cent.

However, the port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) remained in the red with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – losing 5.71 points to end at 8,400.93. Losers beat gainers 109 to 92, with 38 issues remaining unchanged on the port city bourse that traded 7.01 million shares and mutual fund units with a value of Tk 215 million. -FE