The benchmark index of the Dhaka bourse went past the level of 5,000 points yesterday after more than two months riding on higher demand for shares of banks, non-bank financial institutions and pharmaceuticals.

The DSEX, the benchmark index of Dhaka Stock Exchange, rose 49 points, or 1 per cent, to 5,024.38 yesterday. This is the highest since September 28.

Normally, banking and NBFI stocks see an upward trend in the month of December as these firms declare profits and yearly dividends in the month after, said stock investor Abdul Halim.

The stocks are rising following the trend, he said.

As most of the banks' profits are being considered artificial this year, the lenders are moving relatively slower despite the rise in profits, he said.

Bangladesh Bank has asked lenders not to consider businesspeople to be defaulters if they fail to repay instalments this year, considering the economic fallouts of the pandemic.

This curbed provision requirements. Banks in other countries have set aside additional provisioning to protect their financial health from the potential risks emerging from the ongoing hardship.

Turnover, another important indicator of the stock market, increased 2.55 per cent to Tk 843 crore yesterday on the DSE.

Aramit Cement topped the gainers' list yesterday rising 9.92 per cent followed by Al-haj Textile, Fortune Shoes, Dominage Steel, Dacca Dyeing, Fas Finance, and Silco Pharmaceuticals.

Beximco had its stocks traded the most, worth Tk 52.35 crore, followed by Republic Insurance, LankaBangla Finance, Fortune Shoes and Beximco Pharmaceuticals.

Of the total 354 companies to witness trade, 154 advanced, 120 declined and 80 remained unchanged.

Nitol Insurance shed the most, losing 8.16 per cent yesterday, followed by CAPM IBBL Mutual Fund, Prime Insurance, Green Delta Insurance and Provati Insurance.

Chattogram Stock Exchange also witnessed a rising trend in its index.

The CSEX, the prime index of the port city bourse, rose 94.41 points, or 1 per cent, to 8,681.71 yesterday.

Out of a total of 256 companies' stocks, 135 rose, 76 fell and 45 remained same.