DSE turnover soars to four-month high on March 31

Dhaka stocks returned positive on Tuesday (on March 31) with the turnover of the bourse hitting four-month high following talks about formation of a forum to sort out the problems of capital market-related entities that might have attracted institutional investors to the trading floor.
Turnover of Dhaka Stock Exchange rose 43.70 per cent to Tk 452.72 crore compared with that of Tk 314.93 crore in the previous trading session. Tuesday’s turnover was highest after Tk 513.49 crore in December.
The key index of the bourse, DSEX, increased at 4,530.48 points, adding 0.47 per cent or 21.20 points on the day.
The decision of six capital market and money market associations’ to form Bangladesh Financial Market Forum to press the regulatory bodies about the entities’ problems might have encouraged institutional investors, who were on the sideline, to increase their participation on the trading floor, Union Capital managing director Akhter Hossain Sannamat told New Age.
Investors’ fresh positioning on several scrips and foreign investors’ increased participation on the trading floor might have kept the market up, he said.
Although BNP is yet to clear its position regarding city corporation elections, investors were expecting that the party would finally participate in the polls, he said.
DS30, the blue-chip index of DSE, rose by 0.63 per cent, or 10.98 points, to close at 1,728.47 points on the day.
The Shariah index of the bourse, DSES, rose by 0.58 points, or 6.44 points, to close at 1,103.13 points.
Of the 313 shares and mutual funds traded on the day, 123 advanced, 147 declined and 43 remained unchanged.
‘The bourse observed an influx of money from the sideline, especially in the Large Caps in search of safe bets, consolidating a total turnover of Tk 4.5 bn, which is the highest turnover of the year,’ IDLC Investments said in its daily market commentary.
‘Broad market view remained pessimistic as issues advanced (123) were outnumbered by issues declined (147),’ it said.
‘Nevertheless, surging Large Caps helped DSEX boost a positive day, with a 21 points gain,’ said IDLC.
‘Although there was a lot of ups and down movements during the day, incresed participation of the investors ultimately took the trading session to the green zone,’ LankaBangla Securities said in its daily market analysis.
MJL Bangladesh-led the turnover chart on the day as its shares worth Tk 43.95 crore changed hands.
Grameenphone, ACI Limited, Khulna Power Company, Lafarge Surma Cement, Shasha Denims, Square Pharmaceuticals, IFAD Autos, Agni Systems and British American Tobacco Bangladesh were among other turnover leaders.

First Bangladesh Fixed Income Fund gained the most on the day as its share prices rose by 9.26 per cent, while Bangladesh Welding Electrodes was the worst loser, shedding 4.82 per cent. (Source: New Age, April 1, 2015)