Dhaka stocks witnessed massive rise in transactions and prices last week due to the apparent end of political pandemonium. Turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange increased by 160.99 per cent to total at Tk 438.57 crore in last week from the previous week’s figure of Tk 168.04 crore.

On January 18, 2006, the DSE turnover rose to Tk 104.71 crore, highest after 1996, the year the country’s capital market suffered a bubble-burst, surpassing Sunday’s total of Tk 92.34 crore. The general index of the DSE gained 131.54 points or 8.31 per cent to close at 1,713.53 on January 18, 2006 while benchmark DSE 20 advanced by 123.79 points or 8.86 per cent to close at 1521.43.

In the week, indices gained highest points on January 14, 2006 the first trading day under emergency. Market operators attributed the recent rising trend to the apparent end of the political pandemonium that had put the country’s capital market in downtrend for months.

A total of 262 issues were traded last week. Of them, 199 issues advanced, 30 declined and 10 remained unchanged while 23 issues recorded no trading in the period. In Tech Online topped the gainers’ list while Rahima Food was the biggest loser. In Tech Online gained 31.47 per cent in its share prices while Rahima Food witnessed 16.67 per cent fall.

The Power Grid Company Bangladesh topped the turnover index with total sales of Tk 45.50 crore which was 10.37 per cent of the total turnover of the bourse last week. Other turnover leaders were: Southeast Bank, Dhaka Electric Supply Company, Prime Bank, Square Textile, Exim Bank, Bextex, Jamuna Bank, Grameen Mutual Fund One, Aims 1st Mutual Fund.
Note: Tk.1 crore is equivalent to Tk.10 million.