Stocks ended almost flat in the green on Wednesday after choppy trading as investors were active on both sides of the trading fence.
The market remained upbeat in the first half of the trading session while the later half went down amid a short-term profit-booking tendency among investors on recently rallied stocks.
DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), finally went up by 2.03 points to settle at 6,336 points.
The DSES index, which represents Shariah-based companies, saw a fractional gain of 0.08 points to 1,374. However, the DS30 Index, which consists of blue-chip companies, dropped 0.65 points to 2,192.
Turnover, the crucial indicator of the market, soared 48.5 per cent to Tk 8.91 billion riding on block trade. The block trade added Tk 1.08 billion to the total turnover on Wednesday.
Investors sought to take positions in the current rallies in low-cap and junk stocks in anticipation of quick gains, said a stockbroker.
Low-cap companies dominated the turnover chart with Fu-Wang Food was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 566 million changing hands, closely followed by Dragon Sweater, Sea Pearl Beach, Makson Spinning and Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag Industries.
Fu-Wang Food was also the top gainer, posting a 9.81 per cent increase while Pragati Life Insurance was the worst loser, losing 7.96 per cent.
The port city bourse – the Chittagong Stock Exchange – (CSE) also closed in the flat with CSE All Share Price Index- CASPI-rising 0.45 points to stand at 18,727.
Of the issues traded, 69 advanced, 64 declined and 91 remained unchanged with Tk 214 million in turnover.
