Stocks extended losses for a second straight session as fuel price adjustments and uncertainty over Middle East ceasefire talks weighed on investor sentiment.
The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) broad index DSEX fell 0.28 per cent to 5,232 during the closing bell on Monday from 5,248 in the previous session.
The market remained under pressure from the opening bell, with selling intensifying mid-session, according to EBL Securities Research in its post-closing market commentary.
A brief recovery attempt failed as persistent selling dragged the index into negative territory.
Turnover edged up 0.7 per cent to Tk820 crore, indicating steady trading activity despite the decline.
Engineering stocks led turnover with 17.5 per cent, followed by textiles’ 14.8 per cent and pharmaceuticals’ 11.8 per cent contribution to the daily total on the premier bourse.
Most sectors posted losses. Travel fell 1.2 per cent, jute 1.0 per cent and cement 1.0 per cent. Services rose 1.5 per cent, tannery gained 1.1 per cent and the textile sector advanced 0.6 per cent.
Out of 397 traded issues, 119 advanced, 206 declined and 71 remained unchanged.
Nahee Aluminium Composite Panel led the gainers, rising 10 per cent, followed by Evince Textile’s 9.9 per cent, Coppertech Industries’ 8.6 per cent, Apex Spinning’s 8.4 per cent and Bangladesh Autocars’ 8.2 per cent gain on Monday.
Aman Feed gained 7.9 per cent, 1st Prime Finance Mutual Fund 7.3 per cent, ACME Pesticides 6.7 per cent, Deshbandhu Polymer 6.2 per cent and Lovello Ice Cream gained 5.4 per cent.
On the other hand, with a 7.7 per cent fall, HFL led the losers, while Fareast Finance with a 7.1 per cent fall, International Leasing with 7.1 per cent, Premier Leasing with 7.1 per cent and People’s Leasing with 6.5 per cent falls followed.
Prime Finance dropped 5.0 per cent, MBL First Mutual Fund declined 4.9 per cent, CAPM BDBL Mutual Fund fell 3.8 per cent, Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company slipped 3.6 per cent and FAS Finance lost 3.4 per cent.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange also closed lower, with the CSCX index down 0.12 per cent and the CASPI index falling 0.19 per cent.
