Dhaka stocks dropped slightly on Tuesday, as a section of investors sold shares to book some profits from the recent gains, market operators said.
Though the market ended in the red zone, with the investors increasing their activity in the market on the day, the total turnover of the Dhaka bourse on the day crossed the Tk聽1,100-crore mark after 83 days.
DSEX, the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, decreased by 1.73 points, or 0.03 per cent, to close at 5,725.27 points on the day after gaining 34.95 points in the previous trading session.
Market operators said that with cautious investors increasing their activity and seeking to book profits from the recent market recovery, the Dhaka bourse posted a total of Tk聽1,108.34 crore in turnover on the day.
The last time Dhaka Stock Exchange posted the total turnover over Tk聽1,100 crore was on February 14, 2024, with the turnover amount standing at Tk聽1,173.58 crore on the day.
The total turnover on the DSE on Monday was Tk聽1,095.64 crore.
The market observed active participation from both sides of the trading fence, according to EBL securities daily market research.
Market operators said that the news of the reappointment of the current chairman of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission prompted investors to be hopeful and get active on the buying side.
The rebound came after a decrease in price indices in nine out of 11 weeks, they said.
Market operators said that rising interest rates in banks, lack of investor confidence amid economic woes in the country and global geopolitical tensions, liquidity crisis in banks and sudden change of policies might have prompted investors to shift their funds in the past weeks.
Of the 394 issues traded on the day, 131 advanced, 222 declined and 41 remained unchanged.
On the sectoral front, pharmaceutical issues exerted the highest turnover, followed by textile and engineering stocks.
EBL Securities in its daily market commentary said, 鈥楾he recent approval of the third tranche of the IMF loan has instilled some optimism among investors, although cautious ones are still observant of the sustainability of the current upbeat vibe and prefer to secure their unrealised gains.鈥�
The DSE Shariah index increased by 6.47 points, or 0.51 per cent, to close at 1,255.02 points on Tuesday.
The DS30 index gained 6.43 points, or 0.31 per cent, to finish at 2,040.37 points.
Best Holdings topped the turnover chart on the day with its shares worth Tk聽55.82 crore changing hands.
Asiatic Laboratories, Golden Son, Taufika Foods and Lovello Ice-cream, Oimex Electrode, Orion Infusion, Orion Pharma, Alif Industries, Malek Spinning Mills and Sea Pearl Beach Resort & Spa were the other turnover leaders.
