Stocks ended slightly lower on Monday, snapping a four-day rally, amid profit booking tendency among investors.
After witnessing high volatility, DSEX, the core index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went down by 1.80 points or 0.02 per cent to settle at nearly 6,763, after gaining 309 points in the four straight sessions.
Market analysts said the recent sharp rally riding on policy intervention of the stock market regulator prompted a section of investors to book profit on quick-gaining stocks.
Some investors also favoured staying on the sidelines as concerns loomed due to rising inflation and global price instabilities amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflicts, they said.
Two other indices also edged lower with the DSE 30 Index, comprising blue chips, losing 2.70 points to finish at 2,460 and the DSE Shariah Index (DSES) saw a fractional loss of 0.47 points to close at 1,452.
Turnover, a crucial indicator of the market, also fell slightly and amounted to Tk 9.86 billion, which was 1.20 per cent lower than the previous day’s tally of Tk 9.98 billion.
Losers took a modest lead over the gainers, as out of 378 issues traded, 178 declined, 167 advanced and 33 issues remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.
Beximco topped the turnover list with shares worth Tk 537 million changing hands, closely followed by VFS Thread Dyeing (Tk 432 million), BDCOM Online (Tk 312 million), Agni Systems (Tk 184 million) and Orion Pharma (Tk 182 million).
BDCOM Online was the day’s top gainer, posting a 9.81 per cent gain while Alif Manufacturing Company was the worst loser, losing 2.0 per cent.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also edged lower with the CSE All Share Price Index – CASPI –losing 25 points to settle at 19,774 and the Selective Categories Index – CSCX shedding 16 points to close at 11,863.
Of the issues traded, 160 declined, 109 advanced and 30 issues remained unchanged on the CSE.
The port city’s bourse traded 12.80 million shares and mutual fund units with a turnover value worth Tk 300 million.
