Turnover on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) fell to its lowest level so far this month on Monday as the bourse's key index extended a two-day slide, shedding a combined 141 points amid a broad sell-off that dragged down nearly every listed company.

The DSEX, the DSE's main index, dropped 78 points on Monday, following a 63-point fall on Sunday. The Shariah-based DSES index lost 16 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index fell 14 points.

Daily turnover fell by more than Tk 100 crore, with shares and units worth Tk 601 crore changing hands on Monday, down from Tk 711 crore a day earlier, the lowest single-day turnover recorded in August so far.

Losses were widespread, with prices falling in 355 companies against gains in only 14, while 18 issues remained unchanged.

Among the day's biggest movers, ACME Pesticides Limited led the DSE decliners with a fall of nearly 4 percent, while Fu Wang Food Ltd tumbled the hardest, losing close to 10 percent of its value.

The steep fall in Fu Wang Food's share price followed the company's announcement on Sunday of a six-month factory lay-off.

In a disclosure to the DSE, the company said it was forced into the decision due to an acute gas crisis and high raw material costs.

The stock, which had traded at Tk 11.10, fell to Tk 10 within a single session after the announcement.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) mirrored the downturn, with its overall index CASPI plunging 173 points. Prices fell in 159 companies, rose in 21, and stayed unchanged in 11.

CSE turnover also contracted sharply, dropping by Tk 50 crore in a day. Shares and units worth Tk 14 crore were traded on Monday, compared with Tk 64 crore the previous session.

C&A Textiles Limited topped the CSE gainers with a rise of nearly 10 percent, while People's Leasing and Financial Services Ltd was the day's worst performer, losing about 10 percent.