Stocks end flat

Mon Jan 17, 2022 12:00 AM Last update on: Mon Jan 17, 2022 05:11 PM

The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) ended flat yesterday while its turnover experienced a rise.

The DSEX, the benchmark index of the DSE, edged up 2 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 7,019.

At the DSE, 182 stocks advanced, 151 declined and 45 remained the same.

The investors optimistic about the economy are betting on stocks although the pandemic is getting worse again with the rising cases of infections caused by the new coronavirus variant Omicron, said a stock broker.

They believe the economy will not get affected this time the way it was hit earlier as the impact of Omicron has so far been comparatively lower than it was feared to be, he said.

On the other hand, some tensed investors are selling their shares, he added.

Aziz Pipes topped the gainers’ list that rose 10 per cent followed by Union Insurance, BD Autocars, Prime Life Insurance, and Apex Foods.

Beximco became the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 87 crore changing hands followed by Fortune Shoes, RAK Ceramic, Paramount Textile and Power Grid.

Bashundhara Paper Mills shed mostly that eroded 5.17 per cent followed by Daffodil Computers, Robi Axiata, Eastern Cables, and Runner Automobile.

Institutional investors are quite shaky now while the general investors are found to be more optimistic, according to a merchant banker.

People will not be loser if they invest after examining a company’s fundamentals properly, he said. They will be impacted in case of purchase of junk or low-performing companies’ shares, he added.

Among major sectors, ceramics, services and real estate and textile closed positive while miscellaneous, telecom and mutual fund faced correction. The Chittagong Stock Exchange also rose. The CASPI, the main index of the CSE, up 21 points, or 0.10 per cent, to 20,567.

Among traded 306 stocks 152 up, 115 fell and 39 remained unchanged.