Stocks inch up

The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) inched up today although most of the shares remained either unchanged or experienced a drop.

The DSEX, the benchmark index of the premier bourse in Bangladesh, added only 2 points, or 0.03 per cent, to close the day at 6,293.

The DS30, the blue-chip index, rose 0.07 per cent to 2,228 while the DSES, the shariah-compliant index, remained the same at 1,372.

Turnover, an important indicator of the market, advanced 21 per cent to Tk 734 crore.

Of the securities, 38 advanced, 129 declined and 179 did not show any price movement.

Popular Life Insurance topped the gainers' list with an increase of 9.91 per cent. Progressive Life Insurance was up 9 per cent, Bangladesh Welding Electrodes rose 8.4 per cent, Aamra Networks advanced 7.3 per cent, and Rupali Life Insurance gained 7 per cent.

Gemini Sea Foods topped the list of losers by shedding more than 4.5 per cent. Navana Pharmaceuticals, Malek Spinning Mills, Intraco Refueling Station, and Orion Infusion suffered substantial losses as well.

Genex Infosys was the most-traded stock on the day with its shares worth Tk 42 crore transacted. Aamra Networks, Unique Hotel, Bashundhara Paper Mills and Eastern Housing also saw significant turnover.

The stocks on the Chittagong Stock Exchange rose slightly.

The Caspi, the all-share price index of the bourse in the port city, gained 17 points, or 0.09 per cent, to close at 18,576.

Of the issues, 36 rose, 68 retreated and 70 did not see any price movement. Turnover edged down 5 per cent to Tk 12 crore.