Stocks posted a marginal gain last week that ended on Thursday, as smart investors collected shares despite growing political tensions in the run-up to the national election.
Week-on-week, DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), rose 14.20 points or 0.27 per cent to settle the week at 5,265.
The week saw four trading days instead of usual five days as the market remained closed on Sunday on the occasion of the Victory Day. In the first session, the index lost 33 points but gained about 47 points on the following there days.
Dealers said the securities regulator's positive move on margin accounts and the lucrative price levels pushed the market slightly higher.
The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) on Wednesday extended the timeframe by another two years for keeping provision against unrealised losses in portfolios of stock dealers' and stock brokers' clients.
The BSEC extended the timeframe up to December 31, 2020, which was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2018.
Although the market edged up, most investors remained cautious amid growing political tensions ahead of the national elections, said an analyst.
The DSE Shariah Index saw a slight rise of 0.21 points, closing at 1,209.
However, the DS30 index, comprising blue chips, ended 1.67 points lower at 1,842.
The trading activities also fell sharply and the total turnover stood at Tk 15.09 billion last week, down from Tk 25.55 billion in the previous week.
The daily turnover averaged out at Tk 3.77 billion, registering a decline of 26 per cent over the previous week's average of Tk 5.11 billion.
Block trade contributed 5.2 per cent to the week's total turnover, with stocks like Renata, Confidence Cement, LafargeHolcim, Eastern Cables and Square Pharma dominating the block trade board.
According to the International Leasing Securities, the securities regulator's move on margin accounts prompted investors to take position on undervalued issues.
The stockbroker noted that the smart investors showed their buying interest in power, bank, telecom and food stocks at lucrative price levels.
The power sector posted the highest gain of 1.68 per cent, followed by food (0.73 per cent), banking (0.40 per cent) and telecommunications (0.14 per cent).
On the other hand, the engineering sector witnessed the highest correction of 0.31 per cent, followed by pharma (0.29 per cent) and financial institutions (0.17 per cent).
The market capitalisation of the DSE also increased 0.30 per cent to Tk 3,809 billion, from Tk 3,798 billion in the week before.
Of the 346 issues traded, 176 closed higher, 135 lower and 35 issues remained flat on the DSE trading floor.
The United Power topped the week's turnover chart with 1.69 million shares worth Tk 509 million changing hands.
Other turnover leaders were Square Pharmaceuticals (Tk 393 million), Khulna Power Company (Tk 382 million), Meghna Life Insurance (Tk 374 million) and JMI Syringes & Medical Devices (Tk 316 million).
Daffodil Computers was the week's best performer, posting a gain of 21.90 per cent while Legacy Footwear was the biggest loser, shedding 9.73 per cent.
The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), also inched higher, with its CSE All Share Price Index -- CASPI - advancing 13 points to settle at 16,138 and the Selective Categories Index -- CSCX - gaining 9.0 points to finish at 9,763.
