Turnover on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) slipped to Tk 2.74 billion on Thursday, the lowest level in more than 20 months, as investors were mostly inactive amid persistent liquidity shortage.
The crucial indicator of the market fell more than 32 per cent from the previous day’s Tk 4.05 billion.
It was the lowest single-day transactions since July 11, 2016, when turnover was recorded at Tk 2.72 billion.
Brokers said the investors followed cautious stance amid ongoing liquidity crisis and ambiguity over the Dhaka bourse’s share sales to strategic partner, taking the turnover more than 20 months low.
Despite the market started on negative note on both bourses, last hours buying helped DSEX to close 5.80 points higher while CSE All Share Price Index – CASPI –advancing 7.75 points at closing.
DSEX, the core index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went up by 5.80 points to settle at 5,828.
The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, also saw a fractional gain of 0.19 point to finish at 2,144.
However, the DSE Shariah Index (DSES) lost 0.26 points or 0.02 per cent to close at 1,373.
The losers took a modest lead over the gainers as out of 334 issues traded, 162 closed lower, 120 ended higher and 52 issues remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.
AB Bank topped the day’s turnover chart with shares worth more than Tk 124 changing hands, closely followed by Monno Ceramic Industries, Square Pharmaceuticals, ACI and Grameenphone.
Summit Alliance Port was the day’s best performer, posting a gain of 4.23 per cent while Asia Pacific Insurance was the day’s worst loser, shedding 4.93 per cent.
Port city bourse CSE also edged up with the CSE All Share Price Index – CASPI –advancing 7.75 points to settle at 18,000 and selective Categories Index - CSCX –gaining 4.58 points to finish at 10,867 points.
Here too, the losers beat the gainers as 100 issues closed higher, 79 loser and 36 remained unchanged on the CSE.
The port city bourse traded 4.41 million shares and mutual fund units worth more than Tk 243 million in turnover.
