The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) opened the trading week with declines as investor concerns over upcoming corporate earnings and rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East prompted broad-based selling. The benchmark DSEX index fell 24 points, closing at 5,451, while the blue-chip D30 index edged down 2 points to 2,103.

Trading activity weakened, with total turnover on the exchange declining by 6.64% to Tk568 crore compared to the previous session. Of the 385 stocks traded, 264 ended lower, 79 advanced, and 42 remained unchanged. Brokerage firms identified caution ahead of fiscal year-end earnings and dividend announcements from June year-end companies, in addition to worries over the broader economic outlook, as key factors behind the selloff.

EBL Securities reported that the market began the day on a positive note, supported by steady buying interest through mid-session. However, profit-taking and liquidation activities intensified later in the day, ultimately reversing early gains and pushing the index into negative territory by close. Shetlech Brokerage Limited noted that selling pressure increased significantly after mid-session, driving the index to an intraday low of 5,451 points.

On the sector level, textiles led in liquidity, making up 23.9% of total turnover, followed by the miscellaneous sector at 11.1% and general insurance at 8.8%. Most sectors registered losses, with general insurance experiencing the sharpest decline of 3.5%, followed by mutual funds down 2.9% and life insurance off 2.2%. In contrast, the paper, fuel and power, and miscellaneous sectors recorded slight gains of 1.0%, 0.8%, and 0.6%, respectively.

Among individual stocks, Beximco recorded the highest turnover, followed by GQ Ball Pen, Evince Textile, Saiham Textile Mills Limited, and Sonali Aansh Industries Limited. Aziz Pipes Ltd stood out as the day’s top performer, rising nearly 10%. Other notable gainers included Anlimayan, Baraka Patenga Power, 5 Alam Cold Rolled, and National Bank. Conversely, MBL First Mutual Fund declined sharply by 10%, leading the list of laggards, which also included Phoenix Finance First Mutual Fund, Exim Bank First Mutual Fund, CAPM IBBL Mutual Fund, and First Prime Finance Mutual Fund.

Meanwhile, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed lower, with the selective CSCX index dropping 17 points to 8,999 and the broader CASPI index falling 25 points to 14,635.