Stocks end lower

Stocks ended lower on Thursday as persistent economic concerns continued to weigh heavily on investor sentiment.

The DSE's prime index decreased by 8.36 points, closing at 5,097.33.

The country’s prime bourse extended its losing streak for the fourth consecutive session, as persistent economic concerns continued to weigh heavily on investor sentiment, fueling volatility across the trading floor, according to EBL securities.

The blue-chip index DS30, comprising 30 leading companies, decreased by 2.77 points to 1,875.39, while the DSES Index, representing Shariah-compliant companies, decreased by 4.72 points to 1,143.71 by the close.

The market remained largely dominated by sell pressure, with cautious investors adopting a wait-and-see approach amid ongoing uncertainties. Nonetheless, the downturn in key indices was partially cushioned by gains in selective banking stocks, which helped offset some of the broader losses, according to EBL Securities.

Turnover, a crucial indicator of the market, stood at Tk 3.39 billion, down 14.4 per cent from the previous trading day.

The majority of the stocks saw a price decreased, as out of the 396 issues traded, 124 closed higher, 190 ended lower, and 82 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.

Beach Hatchery was the most-traded stock with shares worth Tk 159.32 million changing hands, followed by Uttara Bank, Midland Bank, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, and NRB Bank.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) ended down with its All Share Price Index (CASPI) decreasing 63.63 points to settle at 14259 and the Selective Categories Index (CSCX) decreasing 42.28 points to settle at 8685.

The port city bourse traded 2.12 million shares and mutual fund units with a turnover volume of Tk 48.39 million.

farhan.fardaus@gmail.com