DHAKA: Country’s stock markets, driven by the banking and financial sector, saw an upturn in both indices and turnover Sunday to mark off the start of trading in the new fiscal year on a happy note.

The general index of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) increased though prices of more than 100 shares declined.

Prices of medicine sector and garment sector shares took a downturn on the share market on the first trading day of the year.

Out of 250 traded companies’ shares, prices of 128 increased, 118 declined and 4 remained unchanged.

A total of 7, 05,69,849 shares worth Tk 2,127.32 crore were traded on the premier bourse. The amount is Tk 1,887.37 crore more than that of last Wednesday.

BD Wielding, the day`s top gainer, rallied 12.63 per cent. It was followed by Midas Finance, Uttara Finance, Bay-Leasing, Exim Bank, National Life Insurance, Rahima Textile, Bangladesh Investment & Finance Corporation, Heidelberg Cement and Popular Life Insurance.

The major losers included Anlima Yarn, Aims 1st Mutual Fund, HR Textile, BD Auto Cars, Rain Week Jogeswar, Legacy Footwear, Samata Leather, Miracle Industries, Glaxo Smith Kelaine and Prime Textile.

BDST 1918 HRS, JULY 4, 2010