Stocks ended slightly higher after volatile trading on Thursday as some investors showed their buying appetite on sector specific issues.
Market insiders said the bargain hunters showed their buying spree on sector-wise issues, taking the markets in the green territory for the second day in a row.
After witnessing volatility, DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), settled at 5,282, advancing 5.71 points or 0.10 per cent over the previous day.
The investors’ optimism was riding on the news of investing fresh fund in the market by the state-run Investment Corporation of Bangladesh and the DSE shareholders soon, said a leading broker.
Two other indices also edged higher. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, advanced 4.04 points to finish at 1,876 and the DSE Shariah Index gained 5.42 points to close at 1,223.
Trading activities also increased as total turnover on the DSE amounting to Tk 4.25 billion, which was 15 per cent higher than the previous day’s five months lowest turnover of Tk 3.68 billion.
A total number of 107,365 trades were executed in the day’s trading session with trading volume of 116.38 million securities.
The market capitalisation of the DSE rose to Tk 3,845 billion on Thursday which was Tk 3,831 billion in the previous day.
The losers, however, took a modest lead over the gainers as out of 338 issues traded, 159 advanced, 137 declined and 42 issues remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.
Khulna Power Company topped the DSE turnover chart with 2.30 million shares worth Tk 283 million changing hands, closely followed by Active Fine Chemicals, LankaBangla Finance, Shahjalal Islami Bank and Delta Life Insurance.
SK Trims Industries was the best performer, posting a gain of 9.74 per cent while Gemini Sea Food was the worst loser, losing 16.53 per cent following its price adjustment after record date.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) closed marginally higher with its CSE All Share Price Index – CASPI –advancing 48 points to settle at 16,264 and the Selective Categories Index - CSCX –gaining 28 points to finish at 9,854.
The gainers beat losers as 90 issues closed higher, 88 ended lower and 29 remained unchanged on the port city bourse.
The CSE traded 5.13 million shares and mutual fund units worth more than Tk 141 million in turnover.
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