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Stocks ended mostly higher on Monday, the first trading session of 2018, amid sluggish trading activities as investors were cautious to take fresh investment.
Market insiders said investors were cautious despite most of the banks posted hefty operating profits as it was the first trading session of 2018.
The Bourses started the day on positive note, but mid-session saw sale pressure. However, last hours positive movement helped the markets ended marginally higher.
DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went up by 9.89 points or 0.15 per cent to finish the day at 6,254.
The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) also saw a fractional gain of 0.75 point or 0.05 per cent to finish at 1,391.
However, the DS30 index, comprising blue chips, fell 1.67 points or 0.07 per cent to close at 2,281.
The market turnover fell sharply by 40 per cent to stand at Tk 3.74 billion, from previous session’s Tk 6.28 billion.
The gainers took a modest lead over the losers as out of 333 issues traded, 185 closed higher, 110 closed lower and 38 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.
Lafarge topped the day’s turnover chart with 2.65 million shares of Tk 184 million changing hands, followed by Paramount Textile, Beximco, Islami Bank and National Bank.
Dragon Sweater was the day’s best performer, posting a gain of 9.94 per cent while Tung Hai Knitting & Dyeing was the day’s worst loser, shedding 6.86 per cent.
The port city bourse – the Chittagong Stock Exchange – (CSE) also edged higher with CSE All Shares Price Index of – advancing 97 points to finish at 19,365.
The Selective Categories Index of the port city bourse -- CSCX – also gained 57 points to settle at 11,706.
Gainers beat losers as 143 issues closed higher, 55 closed lower and 20 remained unchanged on the CSE.
The port city bourse traded 13.04 million shares and mutual fund units worth Tk 348 million in turnover.