Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) started the week on a negative note on Sunday as selling pressure erased early gains, with investors remaining cautious amid concerns over corporate earnings, dividend declarations and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
DSEX, the benchmark index of DSE, fell 24.5 points to close at 5,451, down from 5,476 in the previous session. The market initially opened higher, with buying interest continuing through the middle of the session, but broad-based selling later pushed the index into negative territory.
Despite the decline in the benchmark index, turnover increased 6.6 per cent to Tk568.60 crore from Tk533.20 crore in the previous session, indicating higher trading activity amid the market downturn.
DSE recorded 184,191 trades, up from 172,590 a day earlier, while total trading volume rose 8.2 per cent to 18.90 crore shares from 17.50 crore shares.
Market breadth remained firmly negative. Of the 395 issues traded, 77 advanced, 262 declined and 56 remained unchanged, reflecting widespread selling pressure across the market.
DS30 index, which tracks leading blue-chip stocks, declined 2.2 points to 2,103 from 2,106 in the previous session. DSMEX index, representing the SME market, dropped 11.7 points to 981 from 993.
On the sectoral front, textile stocks accounted for the largest share of turnover at 23.9 per cent, followed by miscellaneous stocks at 11.1 per cent and general insurance at 8.8 per cent. Pharmaceuticals and chemicals contributed 8.4 per cent, while engineering stocks accounted for 7.9 per cent of total turnover.
In terms of sectoral performance, general insurance suffered the steepest decline, falling 3.5 per cent. Mutual funds dropped 2.9 per cent, while life insurance declined 2.2 per cent. Textile stocks fell 2.0 per cent, while financial institutions and IT stocks each declined 1.9 per cent.
However, some sectors managed to close higher. Paper and printing gained 1.0 per cent, fuel and power rose 0.8 per cent and miscellaneous stocks advanced 0.6 per cent.
Aziz Pipes topped the gainers’ list, rising 9.97 per cent, followed by Anlimayarn Dyeing, which gained 9.77 per cent and Baraka Patenga Power Limited, up 9.71 per cent. S Alam Cold Rolled Steels Ltd.9.65 per cent, while National Bank gained 9.09 per cent.
On the losing side, MBL First Mutual Fund fell 10.00 per cent, followed by Phoenix Finance 1st Mutual Fund which declined 9.56 per cent and EXIM Bank 1st Mutual Fund, down 9.26 per cent. Prime Finance First Mutual Fund lost 8.89 per cent, while Sunlife Insurance Company declined 8.60 per cent.
Beximco was the most-traded stock by turnover, with transactions worth Tk28.13 crore. GQ Ball Pen Industries followed with Tk24.06 crore, while Evince Textiles recorded Tk18.49 crore. Saiham Textile Mills and Sonali Aansh Industries followed, with turnovers of Tk18.15 crore and Tk14.37 crore, respectively.
The combined market capitalisation of listed securities stood at Tk6,84,300 crore, compared with Tk6,84,200 crore in the previous session, according to the market review.
