DHAKA, Aug 19, 2026 (BSS) - Stocks ended marginally lower today following a volatile trading session, as bargain hunting regained some momentum after the recent correction and the finalisation of amended margin rules, although persistent investor concerns over the market's near-term outlook continued to weigh on sentiment.

The DSEX, the broad index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), fell 3.9 points to settle at 5,770, compared with 5,774 points in the previous session.

From the outset, the market witnessed a tussle between bulls and bears. Bargain hunters remained dominant until mid-session, helping the index gain some ground.

However, broad-based selling pressure during the final hour erased the earlier gains and pushed the index into mildly negative territory at the close.

Market turnover declined 26 percent to Tk 7.3 billion from Tk 9.9 billion in the previous session, marking the lowest turnover in nearly three months.

Textile stocks accounted for the highest share of turnover at 23.5 percent, followed by General Insurance at 12.8 percent and Engineering at 10.3 percent.

Sectoral performance remained mixed. Ceramic posted the highest gain of 1.2 percent, followed by Miscellaneous at 0.9 percent and Services at 0.6 percent. On the losing side, Cement declined 1.4 percent, Mutual Fund 0.8 percent and Textile 0.6 percent.

Of the 395 issues traded, 133 advanced, 191 declined and 71 remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, the port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed in negative territory. Its selected index, CSCX, fell 7.6 points, while the All Share Price Index (CASPI) declined 19.3 points.