Ten most-traded stocks grabbed more than 27 per cent transactions on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) in the outgoing week while the pharma sector dominated the turnover board.
Market operators said investors continued their appetite on pharma companies' shares, particularly in Beximco Pharma, amid Covid-19 pandemic as the drug maker launched the first generic version of antiviral drug remdesivir, originally developed by Gilead Sciences.
The stock market regulator's ultimatum to comply with the directive regarding holding minimum 30 per cent shares jointly by the directors within 60 working days from July 29, 2020, also created a buy pressure in its shares as the company's directors jointly hold only 13.19 per cent shares as of July 31, 2020, said a merchant banker.
According to the data available with the DSE, some 31.87 million shares of Beximco Pharma were traded, generating a turnover of Tk 3.44 billion, which was 5.84 per cent of the week's total turnover.
The drug maker's share closed at Tk 111.70 on Thursday, the last trading day of the week, soaring 15.04 per cent over the week before, after hitting two years highest price during the week.
Its share traded between Tk 52.10 and Tk 118 in the last one year.
Orion Pharma clinched the third spot, with shares worth Tk 2.09 billion changing hands. The company's share closed at Tk 62.70 each, soaring 39.33 per cent. It was also the week's highest gainer.
IFIC Bank emerged as the fourth, with shares worth Tk 1.60 billion changing hands. The bank's share rose 29.29 per cent to close at Tk 12.80 each on Thursday.
Brac Bank notched the fifth spot, with shares worth Tk 1.57 billion changing hands. The bank's share closed at Tk 36.90, gaining 5.13 per cent.
The turnover of Square Pharma was Tk 1.13 billion. The company's share closed at Tk 205.40, gaining 1.38 per cent over the previous week.
Khulna Power Company featured a turnover of Tk 1.02 billion. The power company's share rose 8.61 per cent to close at Tk 51.70 each on Thursday.
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