Dhaka stocks extended their recovery for a third straight session on Thursday as broad-based buying lifted most sectors, pushing the benchmark index above the 5,500-point mark.
The benchmark DSEX index gained 38.1 points, or 0.7 per cent, to close at 5,532 points.
The blue-chip DS30 index rose 0.4 per cent to 2,101, while the small and medium enterprise-focused DSMEX index edged up 0.1 per cent to 1,034.
Trading activity also strengthened, with turnover rising 17.8 per cent to Tk655.4 crore from Tk556.2 crore a day earlier.
The number of trades increased 9.2 per cent to 1,83,531, while trading volume rose 17.9 per cent to 23 crore shares.
Market capitalisation increased 0.5 per cent to Tk6.92 lakh crore from Tk6.89 lakh crore.
Buying interest remained strong throughout most of the session, with investors taking positions across sectors.
Analysts attributed the improved sentiment partly to signs of better gas supply to industrial areas, though concerns over geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region continued to weigh on investor confidence.
Also, the falling interest rates in the money market worked as a positive catalyst, analysts said, as investors’ risk appetite rises in the stock market amid weaker returns from fixed income securities.
Of the 395 securities traded, 259 advanced, 78 declined, and 58 remained unchanged, reflecting broad participation in the rally.
Textile stocks led turnover, accounting for 26.3 per cent of total transactions, followed by general insurance with 14.9 per cent and banks with 12.4 per cent.
Pharmaceuticals and chemicals contributed 11.5 per cent, while engineering stocks accounted for 6.2 per cent of the daily turnover on the premier bourse.
Mutual funds posted the strongest sectoral gain, rising 3.6 per cent, followed by general insurance with a 3 per cent increase and cement with a 1.9 per cent rise.
Life insurance gained 1.6 per cent, while textile and paper stocks advanced 1.5 per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively.
Travel and leisure was the only sector to close lower, declining 0.2 per cent.
Orion Infusion Limited was the day’s top gainer, rising 9.98 per cent, followed by Information Services Network, which also gained 9.98 per cent.
Bangladesh National Insurance Company Limited advanced 9.94 per cent, while Sena Insurance and Lovello rose 9.94 per cent and 9.83 per cent respectively.
Saiham Textile Mills was the biggest loser, declining 6.58 per cent. Tung Hai Knitting and Dyeing Limited fell 4.76 per cent, Familytex (BD) dropped 4.17 per cent, Zahintex Industries declined 3.66 per cent and Shurwid Industries lost 3.33 per cent.
BRAC Bank PLC was the most traded stock of the day, with turnover of Tk28.72 crore, followed by Saiham Textile with Tk26.91 crore.
