Indices post marginal gains amid higher turnover
Turnover at the DSE increased by 36 percent to Tk88.9 crore on Wednesday from Tk65.3 crore in the previous session
Stocks exhibited marginal gains for the second consecutive session on Wednesday but investors' skepticism about an economic recovery prevails due to the daily spike in the number of Covid-19 infections and deaths.
DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), inched up a point, or 0.03 percent, to close the day at 3,962.
The Shariah-based DSES index also advanced 0.4 points, or 0.05 percent, to settle at 918.7, while the blue-chip index DS30 went up 0.1 points, or 0.01 percent, to stand at 1,325.7.
Caspi, the benchmark index of the Chattogram Stock Exchange, also gained 16 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 11,259.
The market displayed volatility in the intraday performance graph throughout the trading session. Indices were losing points till the mid-session but picked up a sharp momentum afterwards. Near the end of the session, the market again fell steeply and then slightly edged up by the end of the session.
According to the Daily Market Review of EBL Securities Ltd, the DSEX has been hovering between 3,950 and 3,970 points in the past 12 sessions as most of the willing sellers could not find any buyers amid growing tension over the Covid-19 pandemic.
Most of the investors adopted a cautious stance as the market became almost static and witnessed illiquidity after the imposition of floor price restriction, the review added.
The life insurance sector exhibited the highest price appreciation of 0.5 percent in the sector return board. On the other hand, textiles and general insurance stocks posted the highest price correction of 0.1 percent each.
Among the other large-cap sectors, pharmaceuticals gained 0.2 percent while banking, telecom and cement sectors remained flat.
Turnover at the DSE increased by 36 percent to Tk88.9 crore on Wednesday from Tk65.3 crore in the previous session. Turnover at the port city bourse also increased by 288 percent from Tk1.7 crore to Tk6.6 crore.
The pharmaceuticals sector once again contributed the most – 58.8 percent – to the total turnover value. It was followed by banking stocks (17 percent) and the miscellaneous stocks (10 percent) on the sector-wise turnover distribution board.
Linde Bangladesh Ltd topped the turnover chart with a turnover value of Tk4.3 crore, closing the day at Tk1,308.5 per share. The stock was followed by Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd with a turnover value of Tk4.2 crore, closing the day at Tk63.5 per share.
Eastern Lubricants Ltd was the best performer on the gainers' table, gaining 6.3 percent and closing at Tk854.6 per share.
Zeal Bangla Sugar Mills Ltd was the worst loser, shedding 4 percent and closing at Tk31.7 per share.
Out of the 269 issues traded on Wednesday, 18 advanced, 19 declined, and 232 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.