Price fall in large-cap drives stocks down

Country's both bourses, Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) plunged on Thursday as broad-based selling pressure emerged across the trading board, reflecting profit-booking sentiment following three consecutive sessions of appreciation. 

DSEX, the broad index of the DSE, shed by 32.3 points to settle at 5,234 points, as against 5,267 points in the previous trading session. 

Despite an optimistic opening and the market indices staying afloat in green territory till the mid-session, the trading board observed a pullback since selling pressure gradually intensified in late hours as investors preferred to realize their recent gains. 

Meanwhile, market turnover decreased by 17.5% to a TK 5.9 billion from TK 7.1 billion in the previous session. 
On the sectoral front, Bank (18.5%) issues exerted the highest turnover, followed by Pharma (15.4%) and Textile (11.5%) sectors. 

Sectors displayed mixed returns, out of which Engineering (2.5%), Mutual Fund (1.8%) and Tannery (1.3%) exhibited the most positive returns while Cement (-2.5%), Life Insurance (-1.7%) and Bank (-1.6%) exerted the most corrections on the bourse today. 

Out of the 397 issues traded, 121 advanced, 219 declined and 57 remained unchanged.

The port city bourse, CSE, also settled on a negative zone. The Selective Categories' Index (CSCX) and All Share Price Index (CASPI) declined by 22.8 points and 29.5 points, respectively.    �"BSS