Price fall in large-cap drives stocks down

Stocks today witnessed downward trend due mainly to price fall in large-cap securities.

DSEX, the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went down by 16.71 points or 0.32 per cent to settle at below the 5,100-mark to 5,098. Two other indices also edged lower. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, lost 5.69 points to finish at 1,812 and the DSE Shariah Index shed 4.91 points to close at 1,177.

Turnover, a crucial indicator of the market, fell to Taka 9.75 billion, which was 14.25 per cent lower than the previous day’s one month highest turnover of Taka 11.37 billion.

Losers took a strong lead over the gainers, as out of 357 issues traded, 185 ended lower, 84 higher and 88 issues remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.

Beximco continued to dominate the turnover chart, followed by Beximco Pharma, Republic Insurance, LafargeHolcim, and Fortune Shoes.

The newly listed Crystal Insurance was the day’s best performer for the second straight session, posting a gain of the highest allowable price level of 50 per cent while First Finance was the worst loser, losing 7.93 per cent.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended lower with its All Shares Price Index (CASPI) – losing 84 points to close at 14,654 while the Selective Categories Index – CSCX shedding 49 points to close at 8,833.

Of the issues traded, 146 declined, 66 advanced and 50 remained unchanged on the CSE.

The port city bourse traded 15.02 million shares and mutual fund units with a turnover value of more than Taka 478 million.

(Source: BSS)