Stocks witnessed a major setback on Monday as both Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) closed sharply lower, with most issues ending in the red.

At the DSE, the benchmark DSEX Index dropped 54 points, while the Shariah-based DSES Index shed 12 points and the blue-chip DS30 Index declined by 21 points.

Market breadth remained overwhelmingly negative as prices fell for 300 securities, while only 45 advanced and 53 remained unchanged.

Across all three categories — A, B, and Z — most shares declined. In the A-category, which includes the best-performing and highest dividend-paying companies, 166 issues lost value, while only 25 gained and 28 remained unchanged.

Block market transactions amounted to Tk 29 crore involving 23 companies, with Prime Bank PLC leading the block trade segment with sales exceeding Tk 10 crore.

The turnover on the DSE also slipped, totaling Tk 518 crore compared to Tk 544 crore in the previous session.

National Tubes Limited topped the day’s gainers, soaring 7%, while Fareast Finance & Investment Limited plunged over 10%, becoming the day’s worst performer.

Stocks at DSE, CSE open higher

The bearish sentiment extended to the CSE as well, where the CASPI Index dropped 87 points.

Out of the traded issues on the port city bourse, 126 declined, 42 advanced and 25 remained unchanged.

Despite the fall in indices, trading activity on the CSE picked up, with turnover rising to Tk 24 crore from Tk 16 crore in the previous session.