Dhaka, March 19 -- Although the prime index of the Dhaka bourse plummeted 70 points, or 1.17 per cent, the market cap surged by Tk 277 billion or 4 per cent on Monday, from the day before. Analysts described the data as "unusual" and suspected "technical error" in the calculations.

The common trend is when the market index rise, the market cap also rise and vice versa.

But on Monday, according to the DSE, the market cap of the main bourse went up from Tk 6,996 billion to Tk 7,273 billion, despite the fact that most large-cap stocks experienced price erosion. Instead of rising, the benchmark index plunged to three-year low to 5,898 points.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange's broad index (DSEX) represents major equity-based securities. However, w...