Stocks end week on a mixed note; DSE slips, CSE gains

Bangladesh’s capital market ended the last trading session of the week on a mixed note, with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) closing lower while the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) posted gains.

Both bourses witnessed upward momentum in the first half of the session but selling pressure toward the close dragged the DSE into the red. The benchmark DSEX shed 6 points by the end of trading.

Among the other indices, the Shariah-based DSES fell by 2 points, while the blue-chip DS30 edged down by 1 point.

Most listed companies on the DSE saw price declines, as shares of 189 companies lost value against gains by 145, while prices of 56 issues remained unchanged.

The market turnover also dropped, with shares and units worth Tk 536 crore traded during the session, down from Tk 6.05 billion in the previous trading day.

In the block market, shares of 27 companies worth Tk 130 million changed hands, with Dominage Steel Building Systems Limited accounting for the highest turnover of Tk 20 million.

Asia Insurance PLC topped the DSE gainers’ list after its share price surged by nearly 10 per cent, while MIDAS Financing PLC ended as the worst performer, losing more than 5 per cent.

In contrast, the CSE closed higher, with its broad-based index CASPI advancing by 25 points.

Most companies on the port city bourse ended in positive territory, as share prices of 87 companies rose against declines by 57, while 20 issues remained unchanged.

The turnover on the CSE also increased marginally, with shares and units worth Tk 140 million traded during the session, compared to Tk 130 million a day earlier.

Asia Pacific General Insurance Company Limited emerged as the top gainer on the CSE with a 10 percent rise, while Deshbandhu Polymer Limited sank to the bottom of the chart after losing over 9 percent.