Business Desk :
Stocks ended higher on Thursday, the last trading day of this year, as investors showed their buying interest on sector-wise issues amid high hopes in the New Year. DSEX, prime index of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went up by 25.50 points or 0.37 per cent to settle at 6,756. DSEX added more than 1,354 points or 25 per cent during the year 2021. Two other indices also closed higher. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, advanced 10.26 points to finish at 2,532 and the DSE Shariah Index rose 3.84 points to close at 1,431. Turnover, a crucial indicator of the market, stood at Tk 9.21 billion on the country’s premier bourse, climbing by 25 per cent over the previous day’s tally of Tk 7.35 billion. Market analysts said the investors showed their buying appetite on sector-wise stocks amid high hopes in the New Year. Gainers took a modest lead over the losers as out of 377 issues traded, 178 advanced, 49 declined and 50 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.
A total number of 157,713 trades were executed in the day’s trading session with a trading volume of 172.37 million shares and mutual fund units. Sonali Paper & Board Mills topped the turnover chart once again with more than 1.17 million shares worth Tk 1.12 billion changing hands, followed by Asia Insurance, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, Genex Infosys and Beximco.
Ratanpur Steel Re-rolling Mills was the day’s best performer, posting a gain of 10 per cent, while South Bangla Agriculture & Commerce Bank was the worst loser, losing 5.0 per cent.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange also ended higher with its All Shares Price Index (CASPI)-gaining 44.56 points to close at 19,666 while the Selective Categories Index – CSCX rising 25.10 points to close at 11,813.
Of the issues traded, 136 declined, 129 advanced and 41 remained unchanged on the CSE.
The port city bourse traded 23.79 million shares and mutual fund units with a turnover value of more than Tk 586 million.
