As investors lifted quick profits Monday following an uptrend in the market for two consecutive gains, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) registered a slight fall. Brokers said the investors who took position on the bearish market until Wednesday last, a day before the DSE registered its biggest gains in 14 months, went on profit taking, putting sales under pressure.

The major indices had showed an uptrend during the early hours of the day's trading, but immediately witnessed a sharp fall as the investors started taking profits. The indices, however, recovered to some extent by the end of the day's trading, plunging just below Sunday's level.

The General Index (DGEN), the benchmark index, lost 4 points or 0.16 percent to close at 2,563 on Monday from 2,567 on Sunday while the All Shares Price Index (DSI) dropped 3 points or 0.16 percent to close at 2,133 on Monday from 2,136 on Sunday.

The DSE-20 of selective shares declined 12 points or 0.57 percent to close at 2,087 on Monday from 2,099 on the previous trading day.

Of the total 268 issues traded on the day, 148 registered gains while 112 incurred losses and eight remained unchanged.

The day's total turnover increased to Tk 2.87 billion from Tk 2.62 billion on Sunday while market capitalisation fell slightly to Tk 994 billion from Tk 996 billion on Sunday.

Titas Gas, Golden Son, Eastern Housing Limited, Beximco Pharma, Aftab Auto, Keya Detergent, BSRM Steel, Atlas Bangladesh, Beximco and S Alam CRST were the turnover leaders in terms of value.

The day's volume leaders were AIMS 1st Mutual Fund, Golden Son, Keya detergent, FuWang Food, ISN Limited, GRAMEENS2, Beximco Textiles, Quasem Dry Cell, Keya Cosmetics and Makson Spinning.

Top gainers of the day were Rahman Chemicals, Purabi General Insurance, BSRM Steel, BD Auto Cars, Padma Cement, BLTC, Jute Spinning, Beach Hatchery, Orion Infusion and Sonali Ansh.

Top losers were Sreepur Textile, Quasem textiles, Ranga Food, Saleh carpet, Alpha Tobacco, Al-Amin Chemicals, Bengal Fine Ceramics, Dynamic Textile, Bionic Food and Bemco.