, Dec. 21 -- The country's stock markets closed lower on the first working day of the week on Sunday, with key indices declining on both bourses, trading fell on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) but increased on the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE).

On the DSE, the benchmark DSEX index shed 4 points, while the Shariah-based DSES fell 1 point and the blue-chip DS30 index dropped 6 points.

Despite the index decline, most listed companies ended higher, with prices rising for 161 firms against declines for 157, while shares of 70 companies remained unchanged.

In the block market, shares worth nearly Tk 19 crore were traded across 20 companies, with BRAC Bank PLC topping the list at Tk 7.6 crore.

The turnover on the DSE stood at Tk 293 crore,...