Stocks continued to gain for a second session yesterday amid improved participation of investors who were optimistic about the future outlook.

DSEX, the benchmark index of the premier bourse, rose 39.53 points or 0.87 percent, before closing the day at 4,544.7 points.

IDLC Investments in its regular analysis said the bourse gained the momentum with rising participation and soaring indices.

“Quick recovery of the market from the gloom of recent terror attack, coupled with dividends and earnings expectation on many scrips, boosted investor confidence and optimism,” the merchant bank said.

LankaBangla Securities said renewed buying interest among the investors over the past few trading sessions continued to boost market activities.

Financial and consumer stocks led the gains, while other stocks managed to hold on at their current level, the stockbroker added.

The daily turnover, another important indicator of the market, jumped up 44.5 percent to Tk 394.11 crore, with 12.8 crore shares and mutual fund units changing hands on the DSE.

Of the traded issues, 203 advanced and 71 declined with 49 securities closing unchanged on the premier bourse.

ACI Formulations dominated the turnover chart with 11.57 lakh shares worth Tk 19.19 crore changing hands, followed by Acme Laboratories, Islami Bank, Square Pharma and Aman Feed.

All the major sectors gained in market capitalisation with ceramic increasing the most -- 2.7 percent, followed by life insurance that rose 1.68 percent, mutual fund 1.22 percent, banks 1.02 percent, pharma 0.93 percent, fuel and power 0.68 percent, telecom 0.59 percent and non-bank financial institutions 0.57 percent.