Stocks closed flat amid choppy trading yesterday with turnover falling below Tk300-crore after 18 weeks.
The market moved between gains and losses through entire session, as investors remained cautious over the prolonged market volatility. The intra-day volatility was more than 37 points.
The benchmark DSEX gained 16 points or 0.4% to close at 4,772, after losses in the previous session.
However, the Shariah index DSES was marginally down almost 2 points or 0.2% to 1,106. The comprising blue chips DS30 settled at 1,760, edging 9 points or 0.6% higher.
Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, was marginally up 4 points to end at 8,952.
Trading activities remained poor as turnover at DSE stood at Tk263crore, sharply 15.6% lower over previous session and lowest since July 20 this year.
Food and allied sector registered the highest gain of 3.6%, driven by heavy weight BATBC that rose 4.8%. Service and real Estate also gained 4.8%. Banks, pharmaceuticals and telecommunication edged up while non-banking financial institutions closed marginally lower.
Gainers beat losers, as out of 302 issues traded, 162 advanced, 105 declined and 35 remained unchanged.
Lanka Bangla Securities said market ended the day with positive note amid benchmark index gaining. But turnover activity indicated that investors were still remaining cautious and observing market movement from the sidelines, it said.
It said activities decreased in the DSE where turnover, trade, and volume were down by 15.64%, 10.45%, and 12.16% respectively.
IDLC Investments said combined with heightened volatility and low turnover, closing session of the week ended flat.
Keya Cosmetics topped turnover leader list with shares worth Tk12 crore changing hands, followed by Beximco Ltd, Square Pharmaceuticals, Western Marine Shipyard, Summit Alliance Port Limited, Khan Brothers PP Woven and United Commercial Bank.
Eastern Lubricants gained highest of over 7%. Other top gainers include ACI Formulation, ACI Limited, Summit Alliance Port Ltd, BATBC and Provati Insurance.
Khan Brothers PP Woven was the biggest loser falling more than 6%, followed by Progressive Life Insurance, Sonali Aansh, Popular Life Insurance, Gemini Sea Food, Continental Insurance and Pharma Aid.
