Stocks end flat after choppy trade

Stocks ended flat after choppy trade on Tuesday, ending two days of marginal decline.

The benchmark DSEX index edged 8 points or 0.14 percent lower to settle at 6,022, hitting as high as 6,049 in the morning and as low as 6,014 in the final minutes.

Other indices, the Shariah-based DSES index saw a fractional fall of 0.52 points or 0.04 percent to 1,284 and the blue-chip DS30 index moved up almost 4 points or 0.17 percent to 2,176.

However, general insurance stocks continued to steal the show, with Reliance Insurance emerging as the top performer among insurance companies and third-largest gainer of the day, surging 9.96 percent.

IT stocks also maintained their gaining streak driven by Genex Infosys Limited that rallied more than 5 percent as the company recently decided to invest in a new venture to be called Genex Infrastructure Limited where Genex Infosys Limited will hold 75 percent equity.

The cement sector shined after a profit-booking fall in the previous two sessions. Engineering, NBFI, textile, and pharmaceutical stocks witnessed a moderate rise.

Among other sectors, bank, telecom, travel and leisure, life insurance, and mutual fund sectors faced correction.

Turnover increased by 16.8 percent to Tk2,033 crore backed by the general insurance sector making up 25.28 percent of the total turnover.

Major laggards were Intech Limited, Bangladesh National Insurance Company Limited, NRBC Bank, Union Capital, Delta Life Insurance, ILFSL, and Dutch-Bangla Bank.