Dhaka stocks extended the losing streak for the third straight session on Wednesday as cautious investors continued to opt some profits on major sectors’ issues amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The market opened on a positive note after the first half the session prime index reversed the trend which continued till the end as the shaky investors liquidated their holdings from most of the major sectors.
At the end of the session, DSEX, the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, went down by 3.07 points or 0.07 per cent to settle at 4,079.
Market analysts said cautious investors continued their profit booking sell-offs as many investors remained worried about the adverse impact of the pandemic on the macro-economic indicators of the country.
“The investors remained watchful as the impact of Covid-19 induced uncertainty is still hovering over the economy,” said a merchant banker.
The DSE Shariah Index also shed 1.91 points to close at 950. However, the DS30 index, comprising blue chips, advanced 1.04 points to finish at 1,375.
Turnover, another important indicator of the market, came down to Tk 2.68 billion on the country’s prime bourse, which was more than 7.0 per cent lower than the previous day’s turnover of Tk 2.89 billion.
Most of the shares remained stuck at the trading. Of the issues traded, 206 remained unchanged while 71 issues advanced and 64 declined on the DSE floor.
A total number of 61,243 trades were executed in the day’s trading session with a trading volume of 79.66 million shares and mutual fund units.
The market-cap on the premier bourse advanced to Tk 3,158 billion on Wednesday, from Tk 3,156 billion in the previous session as blue-chip stocks edged higher.
Beximco Pharma topped the turnover chart with shares worth Tk 162 million changing hands, closely followed by Grameenphone, Beacon Pharma, Indo-Bangla Pharma and Nahee Aluminum.
Fine Foods was the day’s best performer, posting a gain of 9.90 per cent while Dhaka Bank was the worst loser, losing 7.89 per cent following its price adjustment after the record date.
However, the Chittagong Stock Exchange edged up with its All Shares Price Index (CASPI)—advancing 2.37 points to close at 11,603 and the Selective Categories Index - CSCX –gaining 2.96 points to finish at 7,034.
Of the issues traded, 47 gained, 51 declined, and 86 remained unchanged on the CSE.
The port city bourse traded 5.18 million shares and mutual fund units with a turnover value of Tk 107 million.
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