Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Bangladesh’s stocks returned to the red on Thursday, a day after positive trend with participation remained sluggish as investors followed ‘wait-and-see’ policy ahead of national budget.

DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went down by 26.56 points or 0.60 percent to close at Tk 4,384.06 points from previous session.

DSE turnover dropped to BDT 2.58 billion which was 4.79 percent lower compared to previous session’s value of BDT 2.71 billion.

The losers took a strong lead over the losers as out of 291 issues traded, 159 declined, 87 advanced and 45 closed unchanged on the DSE floor.

Square Pharmaceuticals became the top turnover leader with shares worth BDT 201.93 million changing hands followed by Lafarge Surma Cement, Prime Bank, Heidelberg Cement and GP.

Ambee Pharma was the day’s highest gainer; posting a rise of 6.35 percent while Purabi General Insurance was the day’s worst losers, slumping by 11.96 percent.

The port city bourse — Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) — also returned to the negative with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX — lost 37.14 points to stand at 8,435.24 points.

Losers beat gainers 110 to 60, with 36 issues remaining unchanged at the port city bourse that traded 5.67 million shares and mutual fund units, turnover value of BDT 196.97 million.

BBN/BB/AS-22May14-3:30pm (BST)