Stock market opened the week on a bearish note on Sunday, with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) key index extending its losing run to four consecutive sessions amid sustained sell pressure in heavyweight scrips.
DSEX, the benchmark index, dropped 57.04 points to settle at 5,351.03, down from 5,408.07 on the previous trading day. The blue-chip DS30 index lost 31.06 points to close at 2,066.64, while the DSE Shariah Index (DSES) slipped 8.08 points to 1,162.36.
Trading began with volatility as investors remained active on both the buy and sell sides. The indices stayed above water until midday, but heavy sales in selective large-cap shares in the latter half sent the market lower, said EBL Securities Research in its daily market commentary.
Turnover rose by 7.7% to Tk7.6 billion from Tk7.1 billion in the previous session. Pharmaceuticals led the turnover chart with 16.9% of the total value, followed by banks at 13.6% and textiles at 13.2%.
Sector performance was largely negative, with general insurance and financial institutions each losing 2.1% and cement down 1.6%. Among the gainers, jute advanced 4.4%, paper rose 1.9% and tannery gained 1.7%.
Out of 401 issues traded, 109 closed higher, 247 fell and 45 remained unchanged.
By transaction value, the top companies were Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, Orion Infusion, Malek Spinning, City Bank, Hakkani Pulp, Sonali Paper, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Rahima Food, Asiatic Laboratories and Square Pharmaceuticals.
The day’s top gainers were Apex Tannery, Stylecraft, Anwar Galvanizing, Rahim Textile, Apex Foods, Aramit, Bangladesh Autocars, AMCL (Pran), Apex Footwear and Tamijuddin Textile.
The top losers included AIBL First Islamic Mutual Fund, Nitol Insurance, Bay Leasing, SEML Lecture Equity Management Fund, Union Capital, Central Insurance, ICB Sonali Bank First Mutual Fund, LR Global Mutual Fund One, Regent Textile and Provati Insurance.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange also ended in negative territory, with the CSCX dropping 96.4 points and the CASPI falling 156.8 points.