STAR BUSINESS DESK

Bangladesh’s stock market extended its decline for the second consecutive session amid cautious investor sentiment, stock volatility, and post-dividend adjustments in banking shares.

The DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, fell 18.86 points, or 0.36 percent, to close at 5,248. The other two indices -- the DSES and DS30 -- also ended lower.

The shariah-based DSES index declined 1.9 points, or 0.18 percent, to 1,058, while the blue-chip DS30 index dropped 8.07 points, or 0.40 percent, to 2,009.

According to a market update by BRAC EPL Stock Brokerage Limited, all large-cap sectors posted negative performance.

Non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) recorded the highest loss of 1.44 percent, followed by fuel & power (0.70 percent), banking (0.52 percent), pharmaceuticals (0.29 percent), food & allied (0.20 percent), engineering (0.18 percent), and telecommunications (0.10 percent).

Turnover stood at Tk 767.7 crore, a 7.8 percent decrease from the previous day’s trading.

Block trades accounted for 4.1 percent of total turnover.

Monno Ceramic Industries Ltd, which gained 9.7 percent, was the most traded stock with a turnover of Tk 39.0 crore.

Yeakin Polymer Limited and Mozaffar Hossain Spinning Mills Limited followed, gaining 9.66 percent and 9.63 percent respectively.

Premier Leasing & Finance Limited, Fareast Finance & Investment Limited, and International Leasing & Financial Services Limited were the worst performers, each losing 8.69 percent.

Textiles, ceramics, and miscellaneous sectors closed in the positive, according to a daily market observation by UCB Stock Brokerage. The textile sector led turnover, accounting for 14.8 percent of total trade.

At the Chittagong Stock Exchange, the CSE All Share Price Index (CASPI) edged down 14 points, or 0.09 percent, to close at 14,801.