Stocks slipped into the red Thursday after previous day's marginal gain, as investors booked quick profit.
The market opened higher, but swung between the positive and negative territory throughout the session with investors playing both sides of the field.
The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange-DSEX- finished at 4,314.88 points, shedding 28 points or 0.63 per cent. The index hit highest at 4,369 points in early trading and lowest 4,305 before the session closed.
The two other indices-DS30 index, comprising blue chips, and DSES index also lost 12 points and 2.26 points respectively. DS30 closed at 1,624 points and DSES ended at 1,046 points.
Turnover, the crucial indicator of the market, however remained vibrant and amounted to Tk 6.69 billion, which was 5.0 per cent higher than the previous sessions' Tk 6.37 billion.
It was also the highest turnover since November 17, last year, when turnover was recorded Tk 6.91 billion.
The investors' attention remained mostly focused on power, pharma and engineering - the sectors that accounted for 24 per cent, 20 per cent and 17 per cent respectively of the day's total turnover.
"Although participation from the sideline improved further on the back of recent gaining streak, profit booking was stronger in the accomplished trades," IDLC Investments, a merchant bank, said.
A large number of companies disclosed earnings, which influenced pricing of stocks, said the merchant bank, in its regular market analysis.
LankaBangla Securities, a stock broker, said, "Stocks fell after passing a jerky trading session revealing the profit taking nod in the market".
The stock broker noted after gaining around 200 points in index this week, investors were more active on the selling side. "The day's sell off was widespread with most of the large-cap sector closing in the red," it added.
Worst hit were shares from the banking, pharma and other sectors with a record of offering high returns, said the stock broker.
Large-cap sectors showed mixed performance. Banks experienced the highest correction, losing 2.06 per cent, followed by NBFIs 0.98 per cent. Food and allied and cement sectors retraced by 0.59 per cent and 0.18 per cent respectively.
Fuel and power, telecommunication and pharmaceuticals went up by 1.67 per cent, 0.44 per cent and 0.41 per cent respectively.
Losers outnumbered gainers 169 to 105, with 25 shares and mutual fund units remaining unchanged on the DSE.
A total number of 0.153 million trades were executed with trading volume of 173.32 million securities. The total market capitalisation on DSE stood at Tk 3,097.82 billion against Tk 3,102.10 billion in the previous session.
United Power Generation and Distribution Company remained the top turnover chart with shares worth Tk 547.16 million changing hands, followed by ACI Formulations, Western Marine Shipyard, KPCL and ACI.
Nitol Insurance was the day's best performer, posting a rise of 9.9 per cent while Renata was the worst loser, plunging by 17 per cent following its price adjustment after record date.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended lower with its Selective Categories Index - CSCX - lost 45 points to close at 8,133 points.
Losers beat gainers 139 to 81, with 17 issues remaining unchanged on the CSE. The port city bourse traded 18 million shares and mutual fund units worth Tk 550 million in turnover.
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