The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSEX) witnessed a gaining streak to close at 6290.20 points on Thursday, hitting a 15-week high as investors were busy buying sector-specific stocks in the last week.
Market analysts said most of the investors' interest in the insurance sector pushed the capital market up.
They said the government makes insurance mandatory for all types of vehicles which played a role behind investors' increased participation.
On the other hand, some of the non-life insurance companies have witnessed better earnings growth with decent cash dividends for the latest year and for the recently ended quarter which also pushed the market up.
However, the prime index of the DSE went up 0.28 percent or 17.77 points higher to close at 6,290 points.
The DS30 Index, comprising blue-chip companies, rose slightly by 0.93 points or 0.04 percent to 2,195.29 and the DSES Index, Shariah-based companies, declined marginally by 3.75 points to 1,368.25.
Meanwhile, the shares of insurance companies showed a rapid growth during the last week and dominated the chart of top 10 gainers.
Of the top 10 gainers, eight were from the insurance sector and they saw a price appreciation of 19.53 percent to 60 percent.
The eight companies are Trust Islami Life Insurance, Meghna Insurance Company, Paramount Insurance Company, Global Insurance Company, Rupali Life Insurance Company, Islami Insurance BD, Chartered Life Insurance Company and Continental Insurance.
Trust Islami Life Insurance topped the gainers' chart with an appreciation of 60 percent and the Meghna Insurance Company saw the second highest price appreciation of 43.81 percent in a week.
The two other companies, other than insurers, which were on the list of top 10 gainers, are Olimex Electrodes and Simtex Industries.
The total turnover in the week stood at Tk 36.80 billion in the last week, down from Tk 39.57 billion in the previous week.
The average daily turnover reduced by 7.02 percent to stand at Tk 7.35 billion from the previous week's average turnover of Tk 7.91 billion.
Of 388 issues traded on the DSE, 109 advanced, 74 declined and 205 remained unchanged.
Meanwhile, the All-Share Price Index of the CSE was higher by 0.22 percent during the time to close at 18,530 points on Thursday.
The CSE's Selective Categories Index (CSCX) went up by 0.18 percent to close the week at 11094.14.
Of 308 issues traded on the CSE, 88 advanced, 65 declined and 155 remained unchanged on the CSE.
The port city's bourse traded 22.96 million shares and mutual fund units with turnover value of Tk 67.72 crore.
