Stocks opened lower on Thursday as investors opted for profit booking after a strong five-session rally.

By 11:00 am, DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), had fallen 8 points, or 0.14 per cent, to 5,917, following a cumulative gain of 156 points over the previous five trading sessions.

Despite the early decline, market sentiment remained upbeat, supported by the recent passage of the Finance Bill 2026, which introduced a series of incentives aimed at revitalising the country's capital market.

Turnover on the premier bourse stood at Tk 3.5 billion within the first hour of trading, indicating sustained investor participation and continued buying interest across major sectors.

Market breadth, however, turned negative, with 121 issues advancing, 182 declining and 83 remaining unchanged as of 11:00 am.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also traded lower in early dealings. Its benchmark CASPI index shed 16 points to 15,853, while the CSCX index declined 14 points to 9,724.

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