Dhaka stocks extend rally

The main index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) closed higher today, extending gains for a third straight session, driven by higher gains from banking shares.

The DSEX, the benchmark index of the bourse, gained 31.84 points, or 0.58 percent, to close at 5,447.63, according to DSE data.

Other indices also had positive performances as the Shariah-based DSES and the blue-chip DS30 rose.

Turnover, a key indicator of investor activity, stood at Tk 619.28 crore, down from Tk 696.8 crore in the previous session, reflecting reduced investor participation despite the market rally.

The market closed in green as all large-cap sectors posted positive performance, said BRAC EPL Stock Brokerage Ltd in its daily market update.

Block trades, high-volume transactions involving large numbers of securities, contributed 2.4 percent of the overall market turnover.

Market breadth was positive, with 183 issues advancing against 147 declining, while 65 remained unchanged.

Among the major sectors, banks booked the day's highest gain of 1.37 percent, followed by fuel and power, which advanced 0.74 percent.

Telecommunication and food, and allied each rose 0.54 percent, while engineering edged up 0.14 percent. Non-bank financial institutions added 0.04 percent, and pharmaceuticals closed marginally higher at 0.03 percent.

CVO Petrochemical Refinery was the most traded share with a turnover of Tk 19.4 crore, BRAC EPL said.

On the day's performance table, Exim Bank surged 10 percent to top the gainers' list, while Trust Bank 1st Mutual Fund dropped 6.06 percent, becoming the worst performer of the session.