Profit-taking snapped the Dhaka Stock Exchange’s (DSEX) recent rally on Thursday, with investors cashing in gains near the 5,900-point mark despite stronger trading activity and supportive policy signals from the central bank and the government.
The benchmark DSEX fell 33.17 points, or 0.56 per cent, to 5,860.96, retreating after spending much of the session in positive territory. Selling pressure intensified in afternoon trade, dragging the market lower.
The decline followed several sessions of gains as investors locked in profits while remaining cautious about the market’s near-term outlook.
The DSES Shariah index shed 5.27 points, or 0.44 per cent, to 1,180.71, while the DS30 index lost 9.90 points, or 0.45 per cent, ending at 2,191.85.
Despite the weaker close, trading activity strengthened.
Turnover rose 3.3 per cent to Tk1,147.7 crore from Tk1,111.5 crore in the previous session, while the number of trades increased to 274,233 from 268,395. Trading volume, however, declined to 41.20 crore shares from 44.10 crore.
The market’s capitalisation fell by Tk2,530 crore to Tk7.08 lakh crore.
Selling pressure was broad-based, with 260 issues declining, 86 advancing and 49 remaining unchanged among 396 securities traded.
The textile sector dominated trading, contributing Tk238.98 crore, or 20.8 per cent of total turnover. It was followed by general insurance, which accounted for 20.4 per cent, while pharmaceuticals and chemicals contributed 9.9 per cent.
Among the sectors, mutual funds suffered the steepest decline, falling 2.2 per cent. Services and real estate lost 1.7 per cent, while food and allied dropped 1.6 per cent. Only life insurance and paper and printing bucked the broader trend, with each gaining 0.4 per cent.
Sharp Industries topped the turnover chart after shares worth Tk48.81 crore changed hands.
Among the day’s biggest gainers, Nitol Insurance rose 9.77 per cent, while Tung Hai Knitting & Dyeing and GBB Power each climbed 9.09 per cent.
