Dhaka:Stocks today experienced a decline primarily due to increased selling pressure as investors remained cautious, anticipating lackluster corporate earnings and ongoing domestic challenges.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the DSEX, the broad index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), decreased by 20.4 points to close at 5,425, down from the previous session's 5,445 points. The market initially opened positively, reaching an intraday high of 5,480 points, but intensified selling pressure later caused a nearly 60-point drop from the day's peak, pushing most securities into negative territory.
Despite the fall in indices, market turnover rose by 5.0 percent, reaching Taka 560 crore compared to Taka 540 crore in the prior session. Textile stocks accounted for the largest share of turnover at 29.8 percent, followed by general insurance at 11.5 percent and pharmaceuticals at 9.9 percent.
Most sectors reported negative returns, with mutual funds declining 3.5 percent, financial institutions 2.4 percent, and general insurance 2.1 percent. Conversely, life insurance saw a 1.7 percent gain, while tannery and IT increased by 0.4 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. Out of 395 issues traded, 76 advanced, 264 declined, and 55 remained unchanged.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also concluded lower, with its Selective Categories' Index (CSCX) and All Share Price Index (CASPI) dropping by 33.1 points and 62.9 points, respectively.