Stocks fell last week as concerns over potential corporate tax hikes in the upcoming budget weighed on investor sentiment.

This is the second consecutive week the stocks have edged down.

The DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), tumbled more than 108 points, or 2.07 percent, to close at 5,097.

The DS30, comprising blue-chip stocks, dropped 53 points to 1,875, while the DSES Index, which tracks Shariah-compliant companies, slid 29 points to 1,143.

Market participation also waned as total turnover fell to Tk 1,596 crore last week, down from Tk 2,436 crore in the previous week.

The market operated for four trading sessions instead of five due to a public holiday, bringing the average daily turnover down by 18 percent to Tk 399 crore, according to DSE data.

Investors were most active in the pharmaceuticals sector, which accounted for 14 percent of the week's total turnover.

The banking and food sectors followed with 10 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively.

Sector-wise, cement companies suffered the most losses, slumping 4.2 percent over the week.

Non-bank financial institutions, pharmaceuticals, banking, and telecom stocks also witnessed notable declines.

Of the 396 issues traded, 299 declined, 77 advanced, and 20 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.

Bangladesh Shipping Corporation topped the turnover chart, with shares worth Tk 98.7 crore changing hands.

Other heavily traded stocks included Beach Hatchery, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Uttara Bank, and Shinepukur Ceramics.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange also ended in the red, with its benchmark CASPI index shedding 250 points to settle at 14,259.