Markets to open tomorrow with a lower benchmark Index

Dhaka stocks are set to open tomorrow with a lower benchmark index than it began a week ago, signifying a downward trend in the previous five days.
The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) closed at 5,192, losing 5 points or 0.10 percent Thursday a week ago.
This reflected a continuation of the recent downtrend which saw a cumulative loss of 163 points since November 10.
Major contributors to the decline included Square Pharmaceuticals, BRAC Bank, Islami Bank, BAT Bangladesh, and Khan Brothers.
The DS30 index, which tracks 30 prominent companies, fell modestly by around 3 points to 1,916. 
The DSES index, representing Shariah-compliant companies, defied the trend with a 15-point gain, reaching 1,167.
Market turnover, a measure of liquidity flow, fell sharply to Tk 1,906 crore from Tk 2,330 crore the previous week. 
Consequently, the average daily turnover dropped 18 percent to Tk 381 crore from Tk 466 crore.
Banking stocks led market activity, accounting for 18 percent of the total weekly turnover, followed by the pharmaceutical sector and food. 
Pharma stocks accounted for 12.3 percent of turnover.
A majority of traded stocks gained with 213 out of 390 issues closing higher. Some 126 scrips lost and 51 remained unchanged. 
The power sector emerged as the top gainer with a 1.8 percent increase, followed by engineering and pharma sectors, each rising by 1.2 percent.
Telecom shares advanced 0.7 percent while banking stocks rose 0.10 percent. 
In contrast, the food sector declined the most by 0.9 percent, followed by general insurance at 0.50 percent and cement at 0.1 percent.
NRB Bank was the most-traded stock, with shares worth Tk 65.5 crore changing hands, trailed by Bangladesh Spinning Corporation, Midland Bank, Lovello Ice-cream, and Agni Systems. 
Meanwhile, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) mirrored the overall market sentiment, with the CSE All Share Price Index (CASPI) shedding 52 points to settle at 14,532.