Dhaka stocks post lowest index score this year

The premier bourse last posted over Tk 3 billion in turnover on May 6

The Dhaka Stock Exchange’s key index has dropped to its lowest level this year, with daily turnover continuing to languish below Tk 3 billion.

On Monday, the benchmark index DSEX fell to 4,776 points, slipping below Saturday’s 4,781 — which had been the year’s lowest until then.

Over the past week, the turnovers at the close remained below Tk 3 billion, and slipped further to Tk 2.88 billion on Monday, down from Sunday’s Tk 2.92 billion, while the key index fell by 14.75 points.

The trade volume had crept below Tk 3 billion on May 14, when shares worth Tk 2.94 billion changed hands.

On May 6, the DSE lost 150 points in a day, and though it recovered 119 points the following day, the downward spiral continued over the past two weeks.

Of the 397 listed companies, prices of 125 rose, 202 dropped, while 70 companies traded at previous prices.

The banking, clothing and medicine and chemicals sectors drew the highest gains on Monday. The banking sector contributed 20.29 percent, or Tk 531 million, of the turnovers, while clothing posted Tk 368 million and medicine and chemicals Tk 272.4 million.

Kattali Textile, Sonargaon Textiles, and Esquire Knit Composite topped the list of gainers, while Meghna Condensed Milk, Midland Bank, and First Bangladesh Fixed Fund languished among the losers.