Textile stocks continued to command the largest share of trading activity on the Dhaka Stock Exchange, even as the market struggled with declining turnover, widespread price erosion and weakening investor participation.
The sector accounted for 30.11 per cent of the market’s average daily traded value during the week, reinforcing its position as the exchange’s most actively traded industry.
According to the DSE Weekly Market data, the textile sector generated an average daily turnover of Tk 1,674.25 million, down 9.02 per cent from Tk 1,840.25 million in the previous week.
Average daily traded volume also declined 2.37 per cent to 58.09 million shares from 59.50 million. Despite the slowdown, textiles remained well ahead of other sectors in terms of trading value, underlining their importance in overall market liquidity.
However, trading dominance did not translate into broad-based price strength.
A total of the 58 listed textile companies, 41 recorded declines, 16 advanced and one remained unchanged.
The figures indicate that selling pressure extended across much of the sector, even as investors continued to concentrate a substantial portion of their trading activity in textile-related securities.
The DSEX, the benchmark broad market index, declined by 56.07 points to close at 5,475.58, compared with 5,531.65 in the previous week.
The DSES Shariah Index dropped 13.29 points to 1,086.97 from 1,100 points while the DSE SME Index registered the steepest decline among the major indices, falling 25.80 points to 992.68 from 1,018.48 points.
In contrast, the DS30 Index edged up 2.13 points to finish at 2,105.68, indicating relative resilience among selected large-cap stocks.
Despite this week’s correction, all four indices remained positive on a year-to-date basis.
Market participation weakened considerably during the week. Average daily turnover fell 21.19 per cent to Tk 5,564.65 million from Tk 7,061.25 million in the previous week.
Average daily trading volume also declined 20.36 per cent to 180.29 million shares.
Total weekly turnover reached Tk 27,823.24 million, down from Tk 35,306.25 million, while total volume decreased to 901.47 million shares.
Market capitalisation slipped to Tk 6.84 trillion from 6,85 trillion, suggesting a moderate erosion in overall market value.
The market breadth remained distinctly negative, with 290 securities declining against only 81 advancing, while 14 remained unchanged and 26 were not traded.
The advance-decline ratio of 0.28 underscored the dominance of selling pressure.
General insurance recorded a sharp 55.01 per cent contraction in traded value, accompanied by declines in 42 of its 43 listed securities.
Mutual funds, financial institutions, and pharmaceuticals also experienced notable reductions in trading activity.
Conversely, food and allied products gained 25.70 per cent in average daily traded value, while fuel and power rose 18.69 per cent.
Life insurance and jute also recorded increased trading activity, although these gains did not translate into broad market strength.
Apex Foods Limited led the weekly gainers, advancing 26.66 per cent to Tk 328.30, followed by Bangladesh Lamps Limited, which rose 17.10 per cent .
At the other end, Phoenix Finance 1st Mutual Fund plunged 22.73 per cent, while Silva Pharmaceuticals Limited declined 16.80 per cent.
Saiham Textile Mills Ltd topped the turnover rankings with T k 287.58 million in average traded value, highlighting concentrated investor interest in selected stocks.
Financial Mirror/AH
