Dhaka, May 16 -- The Dhaka Stock Exchange's (DSE) benchmark index, DSEX, plunged by 54.58 points on Thursday, closing at 4,781 - its lowest level in nearly five and a half years. The last time the index hovered around this mark was on November 12, 2019, when it stood at 4,779.

Market sentiment continued to sour, driven by sustained selling pressure from large investors, particularly during the latter half of the trading session. The blue-chip index, DS30, also declined, losing 20 points to settle at 1,770.

Turnover on the DSE totaled Tk 296.84 crore, the lowest in the past nine trading sessions, underscoring persistent investor caution and waning confidence in the market. Despite the slump, Thursday's turnover was slightly higher - by a...