Dhaka and Chattogram stock exchanges extended their downward trend on Sunday, marking the fifth straight day of losses across key market indicators.
Investor caution deepened as trading activity on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) dipped to Tk 200 crore – a notable decline from the previous session – amid broad-based price corrections.
All three DSE indices closed in the red. The benchmark DSEX slipped 4 points to settle at 4,826, while the DSE-30 index of top-tier companies fell 6 points to 1,853. The Shariah-compliant DSES index also edged down by 1 point to 999.
Trading opened with negative momentum as share prices across most sectors declined, pulling indices into bearish territory early in the session.
Although a late rally saw 161 securities post gains – outpacing the 157 that declined – this recovery failed to reverse the overall downtrend, with 70 stocks ending unchanged.
Dividend-paying companies offered little refuge: among “A-class” firms that distributed at least 10% dividends, 94 stocks fell compared to 82 that rose. Mid-tier dividend payers fared slightly better, though 21 of the 43 saw price declines. In the non-dividend-paying “Z” category, 42 stocks lost ground, while only 36 advanced.
Rahima Food Corporation dominated turnover with Tk 126.4 million in trades, followed by Domination Steel Building (Tk 119.5 million) and Khan Simtex Industries (Tk 78.1 million). The top-10 list also featured Fine Foods, City General Insurance, Munnu Fabrics, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, Lavello Ice Cream, Eastern Lubricants, and Anwar Galvanizing.
Total DSE turnover stood at Tk 293.30 crore, down Tk 9.84 crore from the previous session – contradicting the headline figure of Tk 200 crore, which appears to refer to net or adjusted turnover or may reflect an initial estimate.
Meanwhile, the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) mirrored the downturn. Its broad-based CASPI index shed 63 points, with only 45 of its 153 listed companies posting gains against 94 decliners. Trading volume on the CSE amounted to Tk 12.46 crore.
Market analysts cite weak investor sentiment, profit-taking after recent rallies, and macroeconomic uncertainties as key drivers behind the sustained sell-off. With liquidity tightening and foreign participation muted, market watchers anticipate continued volatility in the near term.