The turnover on the prime bourse fell below Tk 6.0 billion-mark on Sunday, hitting nearly two months low, as most of the investors were reluctant to make fresh investment in stocks.
The turnover stood at Tk 5.81 billion on the country's premier bourse, slumping by 15 per cent over previous day's mark of Tk 6.84 billion.
It was the lowest single-day transactions since January 01, 2019, when the turnover was Tk 5.30 billion.
According to International Leasing Securities, selling pressure mounted riding on the news that the prime bourse will launch an investigation against 24 more non-performing companies.
"A section of influential traders are feeling jittery with the looming threat of the investigation as the non-performing companies remain active in the market in recent days," a market source told the FE.
Market analysts said majority of the investors were selling shares of banking and financial institutions (FIs) sector amid disappointing earnings and dividend declaration.
United Finance recommended 10 per cent cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2018. In 2017, it disbursed 10 per cent cash and 5.0 per cent stock dividend.
"Lower-than-expected earnings and dividend recommendation prompted investors to sell banking and non-bank financial sector shares," said a leading broker.
Accordingly, the heavyweight banking sector witnessed the highest correction of 1.21 per cent as prices of 23 banks closed in the red. Non-bank financial institutions sector also lost 1.16 per cent.
DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), also lost 31.56 points or 0.54 per cent to settle at seven weeks low at 5,714.
Two other indices also edged lower. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, fell 5.39 points to finish at 1996 and the DSES (Shariah) index also saw a fractional loss of 0.33 point to settle at 1,312.
A total number of 135,909 trades were executed in the day's session with trading volume of 119.87 million shares and mutual fund units.
The market-cap of the DSE increased to Tk 4,141 billion, from Tk 4,156 billion in the previous day.
Investors followed cautious stance ahead of year-end declarations and banking sector's indomitable influence on the index affected negatively, EBL Securities said.
Telecommunication posted the highest gain of 0.22 per cent, followed by food with 0.06 per cent and pharmaceuticals 0.03 per cent.
The losers took a strong lead over the gainers, as out of 343 issues traded, 225 closed lower, 77 ended higher and 41 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.
Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company topped the day's turnover list with 2.85 million shares worth Tk 489 million changing hands, closely followed by Khulna Power Company, Monno Ceramic, Fortune Shoes and United Power.
Karphuli Insurance was the day's best performer, posting a 9.59 per cent gain, while Savar Refractories was the worst loser, plunging by 9.88 per cent.
The port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange also ended lower with the CSE All Share Price Index - CASPI - losing 74 points to settle at 17,511 while the Selective Categories Index - CSCX - shedding 41 points to finish at 10,601.
Here too, the losers beat the gainers as 169 issues ended lower, 62 closed higher and 25 remained unchanged.
The port city bourse traded 5.10 million shares and mutual fund units worth more than Tk 157 million in turnover.
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