Top ten-traded cos snare 37pc turnover

Top most ten-traded firms grabbed 37 per cent transaction of the prime bourse while BATBC dominated the chart for the second straight session Wednesday.

Market analysts said investors were active on British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company (BATBC) shares after the company declared hefty dividend on March 12.

The multinational company has recommended 500 per cent cash and 200 per cent dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018.

The board has also decided to increase authorised capital to Tk 5.40 billion, from Tk 600 million by amending relevant clauses.

According to statistics from the Dhaka Stock Exchange, about 42,257 shares of BATBC were traded, generating a turnover of Tk 199 million, which was 4.80 per cent of the prime bourse's total turnover.

The company has also reported earnings per share (EPS) of Tk 166.87, net asset value (NAV) per share of Tk 492.15 and net operating cash flow per share (NOCFPS) of Tk 150.13 for the year ended on December 31, 2018 as against Tk 130.50, Tk 385.21 and Tk 162.22 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

The BATBC, which was listed on the DSE in 1977, disbursed 600 per cent cash dividend the year ended on December 31, 2017. In 2016, the company also paid 600 per cent cash dividend.

The company's paid-up capital is Tk 600 million and authorised capital is also Tk 600 million, while the total number of securities is 60 million.

The sponsor-directors own 72.91 per cent stake in company, while government owns 0.64 per cent, institutional investors 9.76 per cent, foreign investors 16.01 per cent and the general public only 0.68 per cent as on February 28, 2019, the DSE data shows.

Brac Bank followed next, with shares worth Tk 198 million changing hands. The company's share closed at Tk 83.20, losing 3.26 per cent over the previous day.

Grameenphone (GP) clinched the third spot, with shares worth Tk 190 million changing hands. The largest market listed company's share price advanced 0.82 per cent to close at Tk 394.90 each.

United Power emerged fourth with shares worth Tk 169 million changing hands. The power generation company's share closed at Tk 401.30, shedding 0.17 per cent over the previous day.

Square Pharmaceuticals notched the fifth spot, with shares worth Tk 155 million changing hands. The company's share price inched up 0.03 per cent to close at Tk 272.20 each.

The turnover of Dutch-Bangla Bank was Tk 149 million. The bank's share price fell 4.88 per cent to close at Tk 210.20.