Stocks edge higher for second day

Stocks posted marginal gain for the second consecutive session on Tuesday with turnover crossing Tk 7.0 billion-mark again as investors’ injected fresh fund in the market amid optimism.

The market opened with a positive note and the upbeat tone sustain till end of the session. At the end of the session, DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), settled at 4,697.50, edging higher 10.30 points or 0.21 per cent.

The two other indices also edged higher. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, rose 13.74 points or 0.78 per cent to 1,767.29. The DSE Shariah Index advanced 6.28 points or 0.56 per cent to close at 1,128.25.

Turnover, another important indicator of the market, crossed Tk 7.0 billion-mark and amounted to Tk 7.20 billion, which was 16.32 per cent higher than the previous day’s Tk 6.19 billion.

The losers, however, took a modest lead over the gainers as out of 325 issues traded, 153 closed lower, 138 higher and 34 issues remained unchanged on the primer bourse.

Emerald Oil Industries dominated the turnover chart for the third straight session with shares worth Tk 292 million changing hands followed by United Power, Alltex Industries, BD Thai Aluminium and IT Consultants.

C&A Textile was the day’s best performer, posting a rise of 9.73 per cent while the new mutual fund Vanguard AML BD Finance Mutual Fund One was the worst loser, plunging 9.83 per cent.

The port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also edged higher with its Selective Categories Index, CSCX, advancing 31.54 points or 0.36 per cent to finish at 8,736.44.

Losers beat gainers as 124 issues closed lower, 96 higher and 35 remained unchanged on the CSE.

The port city bourse traded 18.09 million shares and mutual fund units worth Tk 489 million in turnover. -FE