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Stocks on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) began the week on a bearish note, with the benchmark DSEX index tumbling by 81.25 points, or 1.53%, to close at 5,202.46 on Sunday — its fifth consecutive session of decline.

Investor sentiment remained subdued as the index lost 245 points over the past five trading sessions, weighed down by sharp losses in bank and non-bank financial institution (NBFI) shares.

According to DSE data, all major indices ended in the red, with the Shariah-based DSES and the blue-chip DS30 also sliding into negative territory.

“The market closed lower as all large-cap sectors posted negative returns,” BRAC EPL Stock Brokerage Ltd said in its daily market update.

Turnover edges up despite market slump

Turnover, a key indicator of investor activity, rose slightly to Tk 542.55 crore, up from Tk 530.18 crore in the previous session, reflecting modestly higher participation despite the extended decline.

Block trades accounted for 2.6% of total turnover, the DSE report said.

Market breadth remained deeply negative, with 311 issues declining, 47 advancing, and 38 remaining unchanged.

Sector performance

Among the major sectors, NBFIs suffered the steepest drop of 2.40%, followed by engineering with 1.98%, banks with 1.94%, and food and allied with 1.56%.

Fuel and power fell 1.30%, telecommunications slipped 0.51%, and pharmaceuticals lost 0.47%.

Top movers

CVO Petrochemical Refinery was the day’s most traded stock, posting a turnover of Tk 23.9 crore, according to BRAC EPL.

On the gainers’ table, Simtex Industries hit the day’s upper circuit, jumping 9.88%, while Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company plunged 9.38%, emerging as the worst performer of the session.