DSE All Share Price Index decreased by 12.85 points or 0.98 percent to close at 1289.02 points yesterday while the DSE General Index declined by 14.44 points or 0.9 percent to close at 1574.97 points.

DSE-20 Index, which comprises blue chips, also dipped by 14.67 points or 1.05 percent to close at 1379.65 points.

Market analysts said the ongoing political impasse is discouraging both the institutional and general investors to put their money in the market.

They also said the market will be affected during the 72-hour blockade. "The ongoing political impasse is the only reason for the downtrend on the DSE and it is a natural phenomenon that the market will witness a bearish trend during a political turmoil," said Salahuddin Ahmed Khan, chief executive officer of DSE.

Losers overwhelmed gainers as the bear dominated the market. Of the total 163 issues traded on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), 115 declined, 28 advanced and 20 remained unchanged. A total of 84,56,785 shares worth Tk 23.31 crore changed hands.

Power Grid Company of Bangladesh, AB Bank, City Bank, AIMS First Mutual Fund, EXIM Bank, Dhaka Electric Supply Company, Uttara Bank, Pubali Bank, IPDC and Prime Bank were the top ten turnover leaders in terms of value.

The stock market showed a bullish trend with a 78 percent rise in the daily average turnover in the last week of 2006, as there was a possibility that all major political parties would join the parliamentary elections.

But, last the decision to boycott the January 22 elections by the grand alliance halted the turnover rally.

UNB adds: Trading on the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) closed lower yesterday with the losers dominating the gainers.

The CSE All Share Price Index decreased by 0.39 percent to close at 3638.89 points.

The CSE-30 Index also shed 0.14 percent to close at 3284.76 points.

A total of 80 issues were traded. Of them, 12 gained, 57 declined and 11 remained unchanged. Some 2,460,508 shares and debentures worth Tk 30.78 crore changed hands.