The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The positive political developments for holding the national elections with the participation of all parties has yesterday led to the Dhaka share market highest gains in four months.

During the day's trading in the country's premier bourse the General Index

(DGEN) rose sharply as high as 110 points to 2,726 just before but closed a little lower and recorded 101 points or 3.86 per cent gain at 2,717 compared to Thursday's 2,616 points.

Earlier, the benchmark index hit its single-day high by 105 points increase on July 24.

The DGEN started sliding from the level of 2,720 points recorded on

November 4 and was hovering just over the 2,500 mark until Thursday. Investors believes that the market will be better following the announcement of fresh schedule for elections.

Stockbrokers said the banking shares that have been ignored for long found their ways during the day's trading as the investors took position on the low-priced stocks to tap the benefit of the speculations over the political situation.

Trading of National Bank Limited and Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited faced trade halt as their prices shot up to touch their respective circuit breaker.

On Thursday, the uncertainty over holding the elections has sparked fears among the investors of political instability, pushing the Dhaka Stock Exchange back on losing streak.

Of the total 224 issues traded on the day, 173 registered gains, 43 incurred losses and eight remained unchanged.

As a result, the day's total turnover increased to Tk 2.70 billion from Tk 2.01 billion on Thursday while market capitalization rose to Tk 996 billion from Tk 959 billion.

The All Shares Price Index (DSI) increased 82 points or 3.79 per cent to close at 2,244 from 2,162 points on Thursday while the DSE-20 index of selective shares rose 87 points or about 4 per cent to close at 2,281 from 2,193 points on Thursday.

Uttara Bank, Beximco Pharma, National Bank, Titas Gas, AB Bank, Brac

Bank, GRAMEENS2, Beximco, Islami Bank and Dutch-Bangla Bank were the day's turnover leaders in terms of value.

The day's volume leaders were AIMS 1st Mutual Fund, GRAMEENS2,

Beximco Pharma, Beximco Textiles, Golden Son, Beximco, Agni Systems

Limited, Keya Detergent and Fu-Wang Foods.

Top gainers of the day were National Bank, IFIC, Prime Insurance,

Brac Bank, Kay & Que, Apex Footwear, Shyampur Sugar, Renwick, AB Bank and Apex Spinning.

Top losers were National Tubes, Dandy Dyeing, Fine Foods, Metalex Corporation, ACI Formulations, Power Grid, Eastern Lubricant,

Sonargaon Textiles, 8th ICB and BD Luggage.