Dhaka, Oct. 26 -- Both Dhaka and Chattogram stock markets opened the week on a downward trend on Monday, with most company shares declining and overall trading activity falling.

At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark index lost 22 points.

The Shariah-based DSES index fell by 4 points, while the selective blue-chip DS30 index dropped 11 points.

Among traded companies, 198 saw their share prices decline, 142 recorded modest falls, and 59 remained unchanged.

Across categories A, B, and Z, the majority of shares fell. In category A, which includes high-dividend companies, 112 shares declined while 86 saw minor drops.

In the block market, shares worth Tk 25 crore of 23 companies changed hands, with BRAC Bank alone accounting for...