Stocks inch up amid choppy trading

Stocks posted marginal gain Monday after witnessing volatility throughout the session as investors went on last minutes buying spree.

The market opened with a positive note, gaining nearly 15 points within first 30 minutes, but mid-session experienced see-saw movement. However, last 30 minutes buying spree helped the market to close positive territory.

At the end of the session, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) went up by 12.37 or 0.26 per cent to settle at 4,687.20.

The DSE Shariah Index advanced 3.69 points or 0.33 per cent to close at 1,121.97.

However, the DS30 index, comprising blue chips, saw a fractional loss of 0.16 point to finish at 1,753.55.

Turnover on the DSE stood at Tk 6.19 billion, which was 21 per cent higher than the previous session’s Tk 5.12 billion.

The gainers took a strong lead over the losers as out of 324 issues traded, 200 closed higher, 93 lower and 31 issues remained unchanged on the primer bourse.

Emerald Oil Industries dominated the turnover chart for the second straight session with shares worth Tk 218 million changing hands followed by GPH Ispat, United Power, Saif Powertec and Golden Son.

CMC Kamal was the day’s best performer, posting a rise of 10 per cent while the new mutual fund Vanguard AML BD Finance Mutual Fund One was the worst loser, plunging 6.15 per cent.

The port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also returned to the green with its Selective Categories Index, CSCX, advancing 25.07 points or 0.29 per cent to finish at 8,713.76.

Gainers beat losers as 149 issues closed higher, 83 lower and 22 remained unchanged on the CSE.

The port city bourse traded 16.69 million shares and mutual fund units worth Tk 409 million in turnover.