, Dec. 18 -- Bangladesh's stock markets extended their downward trend on Thursday, the last trading day of the week, with key indices of both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) closing lower amid thin trading.

At the DSE, the benchmark DSEX index shed 22 points at the end of the session. Among the other indices, the Shariah-based DSES gained 8 points, while the blue-chip DS30 rose by 9 points.

Market breadth remained negative as prices of 254 companies declined against advances in 69, while shares of 68 companies remained unchanged.

Block trades saw shares of 25 companies worth Tk 24 crore change hands, with Mutual Trust Bank (MTB) accounting for the highest turnover of Tk 6 crore.

Total turnover on the...