The ten most traded companies accounted for 40 per cent of the transactions on the prime bourse on Thursday, with the British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company (BATBC) leading the turnover chart.
Market analysts said investors showed their high appetite for BATBC shares after the company declared a hefty dividend on Tuesday last.
The multinational company has recommended 500 per cent cash and 200 per cent stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018.
The board of directors of the company has also decided to increase authorised capital to Tk 5.40 billion, from Tk 600 million by amending relevant clause.
According to statistics from the Dhaka Stock Exchange, about 113,460 shares of BATBC were traded, generating a turnover of Tk 537 million, which was 9.17 per cent of the prime bourse's total turnover.
The company's share price also rose 5.0 per cent to close at Tk 4,776.70 each on Thursday.
The company's share price rose 21 per cent or Tk 827 each in the past three trading days after dividend declarations.
In the last one year, the company's share traded between Tk 3,160 and Tk 5,500.
The company has also reported earnings per share (EPS) of Tk 166.87, net asset value (NAV) per share of Tk 492.15 and net operating cash flow per share (NOCFPS) of Tk 150.13 for the year ended on December 31, 2018 as against Tk 130.50, Tk 385.21 and Tk 162.22 respectively for the same period of the previous year.
The BATBC, listed on the DSE in 1977, disbursed 600 per cent cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2017. In 2016, the company also paid 600 per cent cash dividend.
The company's paid-up capital is Tk 600 million and authorised capital is also Tk 600 million, while the total number of securities is 60 million.
The sponsor-directors own 72.91 per cent stake in company, while government owns 0.64 per cent, institutional investors 9.76 per cent, foreign investors 16.01 per cent and the general public only 0.68 per cent as on February 28, 2019, the DSE data show.
Brac Bank came second on the turnover chart, with shares worth Tk 442 million changing hands. The bank's share closed at Tk 88.50 each, soaring 5.23 per cent over the previous day.
United Power clinched the third spot, with shares worth Tk 275 million changing hands. The power generation company's share price inched up 0.39 per cent to close at 405.40 each.
Dutch-Bangla Bank emerged fourth with shares worth Tk 251 million changing hands. The bank's share closed at Tk 218.10 each, edging higher by 0.18 per cent.
Monno Ceramic notched the fifth spot, with shares worth Tk 213 million changing hands. The company's share price advanced 5.07 per cent to close at Tk 353.90 each.
The turnover of Square Pharmaceuticals was Tk 184 million. The company's share price advanced 0.45 per cent to close at Tk 267.60 each.
Singer Bangladesh featured a turnover of Tk 144 million. The company's share price closed at Tk 277 each, gaining 1.87 per cent.
The turnover of Bata Shoe was Tk 136 million. The company's share closed at Tk 1,265.30 each, soaring 4.84 per cent.
Mercantile Insurance featured a turnover of Tk 85 million. The company's share closed at Tk 33.70 each, remaining unchanged over the previous day.
Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company also made its way to the top 10 turnover chart, with shares of Tk 84.99 million changing hands. The company's share price closed at Tk 152.30, losing 3.67 per cent over the previous day.
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