STAR BUSINESS REPORT

Dhaka stocks closed lower yesterday, reversing the previous session’s gains as losses in engineering and food shares weighed on the indices.

The DSEX, the benchmark index of the bourse, declined by 30.48 points, or 0.58 percent, to close at 5,197.26, according to DSE data.

Other indices followed the same pattern of negative performance, as the Shariah-based DSES and the blue-chip DS30 also edged lower.

The market closed in the red as most large-cap sectors posted negative performances, BRAC EPL Stock Brokerage Ltd said in its daily market update.

Turnover, a key gauge of investor activity, was Tk 606 crore, up from Tk 530 crore in the previous session, reflecting higher participation despite the market downturn.

Block trades — high-volume transactions involving large numbers of securities — contributed 3.2 percent to the overall market turnover.

Market breadth was firmly negative, with 105 issues advancing, 233 declining, and 58 remaining unchanged.

Among the major sectors, engineering led the sectoral losses with a 1.15 percent fall, followed by food and allied, down 1.02 percent; fuel and power, 0.60 percent; and pharmaceuticals, 0.50 percent.

Other sectors posting losses included banks (down 0.20 percent), non-bank financial institutions (0.08 percent), and telecommunications (0.07 percent).

Orion Infusion emerged as the most traded stock, posting a turnover of Tk 30.3 crore, said BRAC EPL.

On the performance table, Social Islami Bank surged 10 percent to top the gainers’ list, while Peoples Leasing and Financial Services slumped 9.09 percent, making it the worst performer of the session.