The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Vulnerability of Dhaka's stock market, which began following US economic tumble, still persists as individual investors are yet to regain confidence.

During the last couple of weeks prices of shares in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) fell drastically creating panic among the small investors. As the small investors started selling their stocks being panicked by the world stock market fall, the Dhaka stock market trimmed down.

For some days stock price rose to some extent but fell the following day. The DSE yesterday fell again after gaining sharply on the day before as investors took profit on maturity of their shares bought in the sluggish market.

Stockbrokers said the investors, who have taken position with low-priced shares in the sluggish market of last few days, took profit as soon as the market was going up in the morning session.

They said the market opened with a gaining trend in the morning and the benchmark index rose as high as 2,733 points at around 10:30 am, prompting investors to place sales orders and take quick profits. During the day's trading, the DSE General Index (DGEN) fell 16 points or 0.61 per cent to close at 2,677 from 2,693 on Wednesday while the All Shares Price Index (DSI) dropped 14 points or 0.62 per cent to close at 2,232 and the DSE-20 index for selective shares declined 7 points or 0.31 per cent to close at 2,259 points. Of the total 236 issues traded on the day, 64 registered gains while 163 incurred losses and nine remained unchanged.

The day's total turnover fell to Tk 2.34 billion from Tk 2.67 billion on Wednesday while the market capitalization dropped to Tk 965billion from Tk 970 billion on the day before.

Beximco Pharma, Beximco, ACI, Titas Gas, GrameenS2, Uttara Bank, Lankabangla Finance, DESCO, AIMS 1st Mutual Fund and Dutch-Bangla Bank were the day's turnover leaders in terms of value. The day's volume leaders were AIMS 1st Mutual Fund, Beximco Pharma, GRAMEENS2, Beximco Textiles, Beximco, Fine Foods, Golden Son, BD Com, Fu-Wang Foods and Quasem Dry Cell. Top gainers of the day were Fine Foods, Meghna Shrimp, Meghna Pet, Fu-wang Ceramics, Gachihata, Bionic Food, Beach Hatchery, Rose Heaven

Ball, Niloy Cement and Paper Processing. Top losers were Janata Insurance, Sreepur Textiles, BD Thai, City General Insurance, Goldenson, Phoenix Finance, Bengal Biscuits, Prime Insurance, Maq Enterprise and M Hossain Garments.