DSE, CSE indices fall

Indices in both the stock exchanges of the country have fallen. 

At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), prices of 69 percent shares – both company and mutual fund share units – fell on Tuesday. 

The total turnover at DSE stood at Tk435 crore, increasing by 12 percent from the previous day.    

DSEX, the benchmark index of the premier bourse lost 31 points at the end of the day, standing at 4,929 points. 

The Shariah-based index, DSES, lost nine points to finish at 1,147 and the blue-chip share index, DS30, dropped four points to conclude the day at 1,752.  

Professor Dr Mahmud Osman Imam, who teaches finance at Dhaka University, told The Business Standard that there is a liquidity crisis in the market, and the absence of good governance and good fundamental companies still remains. 

"Investors will not get confidence if these problems are not solved," he said.

Earlier on Monday, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal made some promises to develop the market and address existing problems. 

Referring to that, Mahmud Osman said those promises should be delivered on to improve the market. 

On Tuesday, a total of 353 shares were traded, of which, prices of 71 shares or 20 percent increased, 236 shares or 67 percent decreased, while the prices of 46 shares or 13 percent remained unchanged.    

Shares of National Tubes gained maximum turnover, reaching Tk28 crore. Monno Jute Stafflers and Legacy Footwear ended up in second and third positions, respectively. 

The company's share price increased by 8.32 percent, ending the day at Tk174.4.

Monno Ceramic and Al-Haj Textile were the top losers of the day. Market regulator Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission sent both companies to the spot market following allegations of share price manipulation. 

Share market expert, Professor Abu Ahmed, said the investors will gain confidence if all the manipulators are brought to book.    

"But the culprits who were responsible for the share market crash on two previous occasions have not been punished yet," he added.  

In the meantime, Chittagong Stock Exchange All Share Price Index (CASPI) lost 112 points to end the day at 14,951. 

Of the 249 shares traded on the day, prices of 57 shares increased, 172 declined, while 20 remained unchanged. Total turnover for the day reached Tk39 crore.