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Stocks posted a modest gain on Thursday, as investors are cautiously waiting for the budget announcements before making any further investment decisions.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal is unveiling the national budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2020-21 from 3:00 pm today at the parliament.
DSEX, the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, went up by 0.55 points or 0.01 per cent to close at 3,967.
Turnover slumped to Tk 511 million, a 14 per cent lower than the previous day, as the investors were not showing any enthusiasm for buying shares at the current price level due to waning Covid-19 pandemic.
Market analysts said lack of institutional buyers coupled with current floor price limitation is preventing many investors from buying and selling shares at desired prices which is a major reason behind the low turnover.
The stock market regulator imposed the floor price on March 19 for all stocks on the basis average price of the last five days to stop the massive fall of the index amid the virus scare.
The DSE core index is hovering at 3,960 points in the last few sessions as investors are reluctant to make any fresh investment in stocks amid worsening situation of virus scare.
Most of the shares remained stuck at the trading floor and very few buyers came and picked some of the offered shares.
Of the issues traded, 239 remained unchanged while only 28 issues advanced and 14 declined on the DSE trading floor.
The DSE Shariah Index also gained 0.50 points to close at 919. However, the DS30 index, comprising blue chips, fell 0.56 point to finish at 1,331.
A total number of 12,115 trades were executed in the day’s trading session with a trading volume of 19.40 million shares and mutual fund units.
The market-cap of the DSE also inched up to Tk 3,106 billion, from Tk 3,105 billion in the previous session.
Beximco Pharma topped the turnover chart with shares worth Tk 84 million changing hands, followed by Indo-Bangla Pharma, Central Pharma, Beximco and Square Pharma.
National Tea Company was the day’s best performer, posting a gain of 4.31 per cent while Pubali Bank was the worst loser, losing 3.28 per cent.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange edged higher with its All Shares Price Index (CASPI)—advancing 8.42 points to close at 11,267 and the Selective Categories Index - CSCX –gaining 5.23 points to finish at 6,826.
Of the issues traded, 18 gained, 13 declined and 73 remained unchanged on the CSE.
The port city bourse traded 3.05 million shares and mutual fund units worth Tk 125 million in turnover.