Blue-chips keep DSE index positive

Slight growth in share prices of blue-chip companies kept the market positive at the end of the session on Monday.

Out of 30 blue-chips, prices of 18 rose slightly, 9 dropped and 3 remained unchanged, according to DSE data.

Engineering sector also led the market on the day. Of the 42 companies in the engineering sector, 28 rose, 13 declined and one remained unchanged.

At one point, the benchmark index, DSEX, rose 40 points after one hour 20 minutes of trading, but after that the index started falling due to sale pressure. The bourse ended the day 14 points higher after 13.45 points fall on Sunday.

Among other DSE indices, the shariah-based DSES increased by 4.18 points or 0.26 percent and the blue-chip DSE30 jumped by 10.62 points or 0.39 percent to 1578.76 points and 2676.24 points respectively.

Although the number of companies that fell was one and a half times higher than the rise in prices, the index rose on the back of rising prices of large-cap companies such as Grameenphone, ICB, LafargeHolcim and British American Tobacco.

These four companies added 11.04 points to the index.

Of the stocks traded on this day, 141 advanced, 202 declined and 33 remained unchanged.

However, DSE’s total turnover decreased to Tk 1980.87 crore on Monday, which is 276.42 crore less than the previous session.

On Monday, most active five stocks were LafargeHolcim Bangladesh, Orion Pharma, GPH Ispat, Beximco and Saif Power.

Eastern Insurance, Fu-Wang Ceramic, Khulna Printing and Packaging, Central Pharmaceuticals and Matin Spinning were on the top five gainers’ list.

On the other hand, Desh Garments, Meghna Condensed Milk, Jute Spinners, Evince Textiles and Libra Infusions were the top five losers.

Meanwhile, the overall index CASPI of the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) increased by 21.59 points to settle at 21148.30 on Monday. Securities worth Tk 79.33 crore were traded on the day.