Share market slide continues

Small investors formed a human chain in front of
Dhaka Stock Exchange building yesterday demanding the
removal of all existing anomalies in the DSE.
FocusBangla

The share market prices slipped marginally at both the bourses in Dhaka and Chittagong yesterday, triggering demonstrations and slogans against market regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and also against the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) authorities.

However, the numbers of losers and gainers at DSE were almost on an equal level yesterday while the losers outnumbered the gainers at Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE).

Total 222 issues were traded at DSE yesterday of which 105 advanced, 104 plunged and 13 remained unchanged. At CSE, 143 issues were traded yesterday. Of them, 60 gained, 79 declined and four remained unchanged.

The DSI or all-share price index slipped 2.38 points or 0.09 per cent, closing at 2585.61. The blue-chip DSE-20 finished at 2598.20, gaining 33.79 points or 1.31 per cent.

The opening day of the week, however, marked an increased investors participation, which led turnover on the country's prime bourse to stand at Tk 312 crore-from 19,232,521 shares changing hands.

At CSE, All Share Price Index (CASPI) declined by 0.05 per cent to close at 9107.46 points. The CSE-30 Index also shed 0.20 per cent to close at 8201.34 points.

The CSCX or selective categories index shed 6.37 points or 0.10 per cent to end on 5897.74. The CSE-30 blue-chip advanced 17.11 points or 0.20 per cent to 8201.34.

Turnover on the port city bourse amounted to Tk 43.38 crore from trading of 4,618,921 shares and debentures.

The first half of the day saw heavy buying while selling dominated the end of trading.

DSE chief executive Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters that the trend in the market was rational. "Investors are getting matured which has been reflected in the blue chip index," he said.

At DSE, the benchmark DGEN or general index remained in a positive territory until the midday session. It maintained a downward curve afterwards to edge up 1.15 points or .03 per cent to finish at 3020.30.

ACI topped the turnover board, closing 11.70 per cent higher at Tk 383.60. Square Pharmaceuticals ended on Tk 5302.50, down by 2.01 per cent.

Lanka Bangla Finance advanced 4.18 per cent to Tk 226.80. Beximco finished at Tk 96.40, rising 17.13 per cent from last week's closing price. AIMS 1st Mutual Fund also gained 3.22 per cent to Tk 16.01.

The other scrips on the turnover board-Beximco Pharma, Fareast Islami Life Insurance, Keya Cosmetics, Prime Finance and Investments and NBL-also rose.