DHAKA, Aug 16, 2026 (BSS) - Stocks today continued its losing streak for a third consecutive session as investors remained cautious, awaiting greater clarity on potential changes to margin rules and assessing their possible impact on market liquidity and trading activity.

The DSEX, the broad index of the DSE, fell 23.9 points to settle at 5,860 points, compared with 5,884 points in the previous trading session.

The market remained under sustained selling pressure throughout the session, with expectations of weaker corporate earnings amid the ongoing gas crisis weighing on factory capacity utilisation and triggering a broad-based decline.

Despite the fall in the index, market turnover increased 22.2 percent to Tk 11.3 billion from Tk 9.3 billion in the previous session.

General Insurance accounted for the highest share of turnover at 26.4 percent, followed by Textile at 19.8 percent and Pharma at 9.6 percent.

Almost all sectors posted negative returns. Life Insurance declined 2.4 percent, Jute 2.1 percent and Paper 1.7 percent, recording the highest corrections.

On the other hand, General Insurance gained 2.2 percent and Telecom edged up 0.2 percent, the only sectors to post notable positive returns on the bourse.

Of the 396 issues traded, 101 advanced, 241 declined and 53 remained unchanged.

The port city bourse, Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), also closed in negative territory. Its Selective Categories' Index (CSCX) and All Share Price Index (CASPI) declined by 46.6 points and 68.1 points, respectively.