Stocks retreated on Thursday, ending a six-session rally as investors locked in gains from recently advancing shares, outweighing selective buying in fundamentally strong stocks.
The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange fell 19 points, or 0.33 per cent, to close at 5,744. The blue-chip DS30 index lost 16.4 points to 2,162, while the SME-focused DSMEX rose 16 points to 1,317.
Selling pressure dominated from the opening bell, leaving the market volatile throughout the session. Although bargain hunters remained active, persistent profit booking pushed the market into negative territory by the close.
Turnover declined 8.5 per cent to Tk1,439.5 crore from Tk1,573.7 crore in the previous session.
Textile stocks accounted for 16 per cent of total turnover, followed by general insurance at 15.7 per cent and pharmaceuticals at 11.2 per cent.
General insurance led sectoral gains with a 2.0 per cent rise, while ceramics advanced 1.5 per cent and information technology added 1.4 per cent. Cement was the worst-performing sector, falling 1.5 per cent, followed by banks at 1.4 per cent and services and real estate at 1.3 per cent.
Market breadth turned negative as 182 issues declined against 160 gainers, while 54 remained unchanged out of 396 traded securities.
Malek Spinning Mills led the turnover chart with shares worth Tk67.98 crore changing hands. BRAC Bank, Summit Alliance Port, Beximco and Beximco Pharmaceuticals were the other most-traded stocks.
People’s Leasing and Financial Services was the session’s top gainer, while Regent Textile Mills was the biggest loser, falling 6.15 per cent.
