Amid hartals and political agitations, the Dhaka Stock Exchange witnessed a heal-' thy three-day week of trading of shares and debentures which shot up three folds in volume.

After two consecutive weeks of year's lowest volume of trading, the DSE gained a new momentum resulting in a 12-point rise in the AU Share Price Index of the DSE. The Index rose to 790.43 points at the closing of the week Thursday from the previous week's 778.22 points.

The market capitalisation rose by Tk 75 crore from the last week and it stood at Tk 49.03 billion at the closing of the week from Tk 48.28 billion of the previous week.

Market operators noted that foreign investors sold

out a large number of shares this week. Small investors were also engaged in a buying spree unlike the previous weeks, fearing the country's political situation might further worsen "They want to engage their money with a safe investment.’" a market operator said.

A total of 6 lakh 61.364 shares and debentures worth Tk 8 crore 28 lakh 66.525 were traded during the week against 4 lakh 31.150 shares and debentures worth Tk 7 crore 62 lakh 98.244 of the previous six-day week.

The average dally volume of trading sharply rose to 2.20 lakh this week from 0.71 lakh of the previous week. The week s average Is higher than the usual business at the DSE floor.

The daily average value of

trading rose by nearly Tk 1.5 crore to Tk 2 76 crore this week from Tk 1.27 crore of the previous week

A total of 286 issues having 157 gainers and 89 losers were traded this week as against 575 Issues having 272 gainers and 21 1 losers of the previous week, indicating that most traded-lssues marked rise in their prices

However, a sampling of 17 frequently traded-lssues reveal that prices of seven Issues declined by a small proportion. seven issues rose and three Issues remained unchanged in one week.

The issues of 6th ICB MF. Meghna Shrimp. Beximco Fisheries. BTC. Beximco Pharma and Eastern Housing marked loss by Tk one In most cases and Square Pharma marked loss by Tk

27

The issues of BD Lamps. Singer. Beximco Textiles. Purabi Insurance. Bata and Beximco Ltd marked gains ranging from Tk I to 100. The prices of Maq Paper Shine Pukur and Apex Weaving shares marked no change at the closing of the week from last week

Beximco Pharmaceuticals became the week s volume leader as it sold 2 lakh 83.950 shares — almost half of the week s volume of trad ing.

Delta Millers surprised market observers as it sold nearly 60.000 shares Tuesday alone

Other volume leaders of the week include; Confidence Cement—47180 shares. BOC—21695 shares and Quashem Silk—21600 shares