Dhaka stocks ended Thursday’s session slightly higher as gains in large-cap shares helped the benchmark index stay afloat, while profit-taking pressure dragged down most traded stocks and pushed the broader market into negative territory.
The DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), gained 1.7 points to close at 5,662.
The index opened higher and remained positive until mid-session, but selling pressure increased in the later part of trading as investors moved to lock in profits from recent gains.
Large-cap shares outperformed the broader market. The DS30 index, which tracks blue-chip companies, advanced 15.2 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 2,141 from 2,125 a day earlier.
In contrast, the SME-focused DSMEX index declined 12.5 points to 1,047 from 1,059 in the previous session, reflecting weakness among smaller companies.
Trading activity weakened slightly, with DSE turnover falling 1.4 per cent to Tk720.90 crore from Tk731.10 crore a day earlier. The decline came despite a rise in the number of trades, which increased to 1,97,767 from 1,75,097.
However, traded volume dropped 8.1 per cent to around 23.50 crore shares from 25.60 crore shares in the previous session.
Market capitalisation remained almost unchanged at Tk6,98,500 crore, compared with Tk6,98,600 crore a day earlier.
Despite the marginal rise in the DSEX, market breadth remained negative. Of the 395 securities traded, 225 declined, 125 advanced and 45 remained unchanged.
Textile stocks dominated turnover, accounting for 33 per cent of total market activity. General insurance followed with 16.7 per cent, while pharmaceuticals and chemicals contributed 12.4 per cent.
Sectoral performance was mixed. Cement emerged as the strongest-performing sector, rising 1.8 per cent, followed by life insurance with a 1.7 per cent gain and IT with a 1 per cent increase.
Textiles, however, declined 2.4 per cent despite leading turnover. Mutual funds fell 1.4 per cent, while services and real estate declined 1.1 per cent.
Malek Spinning Mills led the turnover chart with transactions worth Tk41.73 crore, representing 5.8 per cent of total turnover. Sharp Industries followed with Tk 34.64 crore, Saiham Cotton Mills with Tk34.33 crore, Saiham Textile Mills with Tk30.74 crore and Beximco Pharmaceuticals with Tk27.52 crore.
Pragati Life Insurance was the day’s strongest gainer, rising 7.43 per cent. Bangladesh National Insurance Company gained 6.82 per cent, while BD Thai Food advanced 6.25 per cent.
Other notable gainers included Fareast Islami Life Insurance, Shinepukur Ceramic, First Finance, Peninsula Chittagong, Takaful Islami Insurance and Bangladesh Autocars.
Selling pressure was concentrated among textile and industrial stocks.
Saiham Textile Mills posted the steepest fall, declining 9.95 per cent. Saiham Cotton Mills dropped 9.43 per cent, while Sharp Industries fell 9.24 per cent.
Other major losers included Meghna Pet Industries, down 8.88 per cent; Apex Spinning and Knitting Mills, down 8.09 per cent; and ISN, which declined 7.46 per cent.
