Ten companies grab 34pc transactions on DSE

The ten top-traded companies accounted for over 34 per cent of the total transactions on the country's premier bourse on Thursday, with Square Pharmaceuticals making its way to the top of the turnover list.

Market-insiders said investors were active in buying shares in some fundamentally strong companies like Square Pharmaceuticals and Grameenphone, taking the advantage of low prices after recent corrections.

According to statistics available with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), a total of 468,410 shares of Square Pharmaceuticals were traded, generating Tk 153 million or 5.08 per cent of the total transactions.

The total turnover on the DSE stood at Tk 3.0 billion, which was 24 per cent lower than the previous day's turnover of Tk 3.98 billion.

The Square Pharma posted a 16 per cent growth in earnings per share (EPS) in the October-December period of 2017. The EPS was Tk 3.87 for October-December in 2017 as against Tk 3.33 for the same period a year ago.

The company, having the second largest market-cap, saw its share price hover between Tk 325 and Tk 327.60, before closing at Tk 327 on Thursday, up 0.60 per cent from the previous session.

Grameenphone (GP), having the largest market-cap company, came in next with shares of Tk 148 million changing hands.

The lone listed mobile phone company's share price traded between Tk 496.30 and Tk 503, before closing 0.72 per cent higher at Tk 500.70.

Other active shares in terms of value included Monno Ceramic Industries, National Bank, LankaBangla Finance, Pharma Aids, BBS Cables, Beximco Pharma, Usmania Glass Sheet Factory and Paramount Textile.

With its shares worth nearly Tk 126 million changing hands, Monno Ceramic gained 2.64 per cent before closing at Tk 124.50.

National Bank saw its shares worth Tk 118 million change hands. The bank's share price closed 2.32 per cent higher at Tk 13.20.

LankaBangla Finance generated a turnover of Tk 99 million. Its share price ended at Tk 40.80, inching up 0.25 per cent.

Pharma Aids saw its shares worth Tk 96 million change hands. The company's share price advanced 2.88 per cent to close at Tk 482.50.

The turnover of BBS Cables was Tk 84 million. Each share of the company closed at Tk 92.80, shedding 3.63 per cent over the previous day.

Beximco Pharma featured a turnover of Tk 73 million. The company's share price advanced 0.63 per cent to close at Tk 111.80.

The turnover of Usmania Glass was Tk 72 million. Each share of the company closed at Tk 123.50, soaring 5.02 per cent over the previous day.

Paramount Textile was also found its way to the top ten turnover chart, with shares worth Tk 67 million changing hands. The company's share price closed at Tk 46, gaining 0.44 per cent over the previous day.

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