The stock markets in Bangladesh witnessed a mixed performance yesterday as the key Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) index experienced a fall while the opposite happened in the case of Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE). 

The DSEX, the broad index of the country's prime bourse, dropped by 1.47 points, or 0.03 percent from that on the previous day before closing at 5,169. This was a fall for a third consecutive day.

The other two indices of the DSE saw an opposite trend as the DSES index for the Shariah-based stocks rose by 2.78 points, or 0.24 percent, to 1,158.

Meanwhile, the DS30 for the blue chips grew by 0.91 points, or 0.05 percent, to 1,923.

Of the issues that changed hands on the DSE trading floor, 150 saw a price hike, 159 closed lower and the remaining 86 did not witness any price fluctuations.

Turnover, which is the total value of shares that changed hands and a key indicator of the liquidity flow in the market, decreased 9.07 percent to Tk 276 crore.

Orion Infusion Ltd emerged as the most-traded share with a turnover of Tk 18.7 crore.

In its daily market update, Shanta Securities said the market movement was driven by negative changes in the market capitalisation of financial institutions, travel and leisure, and paper and printing scrips.

Market capitalisation is the total existing market value of a company's existing shares.

Meanwhile, there were positive changes in the market capitalisation of food and allied, miscellaneous, and textile scrips.

Most of the large-cap sectors, meaning those that account for large amounts in market capitalisation, posted a negative performance, with non-bank financial institutions (NBFI) experiencing the highest loss of 0.92 percent.

The NBFI sector was followed by fuel and power (0.87 percent), food and allied (0.19 percent), telecommunication (0.18 percent) and engineering (0.06 percent).

However, the pharmaceuticals sector logged a gain of 0.13 percent, and the banking sector recorded a 0.51 percent gain.

Companies like Islami Bank Bangladesh, Renata, Eastern Bank, Khan Brothers PP Woven Industries, Taufika Foods and Lovello Ice-cream, Orion Infusion, Fortune Shoes, Heidelberg Materials Bangladesh, Pubali Bank and Olympic Industries drew investors the most, according to LankaBangla Financials.

However, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, National Bank, Beacon Pharmaceuticals, BAT Bangladesh, Power Grid Company of Bangladesh, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Grameenphone, IFIC Bank, Shahjalal Islami Bank and ACME Laboratories suffered losses.

At the CSE, the CSE All Share Price Index (CASPI), the premier index of the port city bourse, posted a gain as the index rose by 34.6 points, or 0.24 percent, to settle the day at 14,489.