Bangladesh’s stock market declined last week, with the benchmark indices of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) falling amid price losses in most traded securities. The financial institutions sector recorded the steepest negative return, while the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended the week lower.

The DSE’s benchmark DSEX index dropped 24 points to 5,452 at the end of the five-session week, compared with 5,476 in the previous week. The blue-chip DS-30 index fell nine points to 2,097 from 2,106, while the DSES Shariah index declined nine points to 1,078 from 1,087.
A total of 385 companies, mutual funds and corporate bonds were traded on the DSE during the week. Of them, prices of 120 securities advanced, 223 declined and 39 remained unchanged, while 28 saw no trading.
Al-Arafah Islami Bank, British American Tobacco Bangladesh, Grameenphone, Sharp Industries and Islami Bank Bangladesh were among the major contributors to the market’s decline.
The textile sector dominated turnover, accounting for 24.3% of the DSE’s total transactions. General insurance ranked second with 11.4%, followed by engineering at 9.5%. Pharmaceuticals and chemicals accounted for 8.8% of turnover, while the banking sector contributed 7.4%.
Most sectors posted negative returns during the week. The financial institutions sector recorded the highest decline at 3.1%, followed by ceramics at 2.4%, jute and textiles at 2.2%, information technology at 1.6%, and food and allied industries at 1.5%.
However, mutual funds delivered a positive return of 0.7%, while the paper sector gained 0.5% and pharmaceuticals and chemicals advanced 0.2%.
The CSE also ended the week lower. Its broad CASPI index fell 0.58% to 14,577 points from 14,661 in the previous week. The CSCX index declined 0.76% to 8,948 points from 9,017.
Shares and units worth Tk 72 crore were traded on the CSE during the week. Of the 285 companies and mutual funds traded, prices of 75 advanced, 186 declined and 24 remained unchanged.