Dhaka, Dec. 24 -- Stocks retreated into the red in the outgoing week to Thursday, as it appears that the prolonged bearish market may not fizzle out anytime soon.

In the absence of a major market trigger in these times of economic uncertainty, investor confidence continues to weaken, prompting them to liquidate their holdings while some others held to the sidelines, market insiders said.

On Thursday, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) lifted floor prices of 169 securities on Thursday but allowed them to fall only by 1 per cent in a day. Still, investors stayed away from the market.

The measure was expected to facilitate trading of the shares, thus increasing activities in the stock market. Instead, fewer transacti...