Stocks opened marginally higher on Thursday as the investors remained cautious amid lack of clear market direction.
Following the previous day’s index fall, DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went up by 5.92 points or 0.08 per cent to stand at 6,756, after the first hour of trading at 11:00 am.
Two other indices also saw a positive trend till then with the DS30 index, comprising blue chips, gaining 0.38 points to reach 2,469 and the Shariah Index (DSES) rose 1.46 points to stand at 1,457.
Turnover, another important indicator of the market, stood at Tk 1.75 billion at 11:00 am.
Market insiders said investors remained worried about the possible adverse impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on the country’s economy while some followed a cautious stance ahead of the holy Ramadan.
A section of investors also favoured staying on the sidelines as concerns loomed due to rising inflation and local currency depreciation against the US dollar, said a leading broker.
Despite the stock market regulator urging the banks to come with fresh investment, banks were reluctant to pour money in stocks, he said.
Of the issues traded till then, 159 advanced, 126 declined, and 74 issues remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor till then.
Beximco was the most traded stock till then with shares worth Tk 617 million changing hands, closely followed by BDCOM Online, Aamra Technologies, Delta Life Insurance and Orion Pharma.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange also opened higher with its All Shares Price Index (CASPI)—gaining 41 to stand at 19,843, while the Selective Categories Index – CSCX rose 24 to reach 11,904 at 10:30 am.
Of the issues traded till then 66 advanced, 58 declined, and 35 remained unchanged with Tk 57 million in turnover.
