Stocks traded on a mixed note in early trading on Wednesday as investors remained cautious, balancing selective buying in blue-chip stocks against profit-taking in recently appreciated issues.

The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange advanced 4 points, or 0.07 per cent, to stand at 5,609 by 11:30 am, indicating a lack of strong directional momentum in the market.

Market participants said investors were active on both sides of the trading fence. While some renewed buying interest in selected large-cap and fundamentally strong stocks, others continued to lock in gains from stocks that had rallied in recent sessions.

Turnover on the premier bourse reached Tk 3.42 billion within the first one and a half hours of trading, reflecting moderate investor participation. However, trading activity remained somewhat restrained as investors assessed the sustainability of the recent market recovery amid ongoing global geopolitical uncertainties and domestic economic challenges.

Market breadth remained positive, suggesting broader buying support despite the slow movement in the benchmark index. Of the traded issues, 183 stocks advanced, 119 declined, and 86 remained unchanged by 11:30 am.

Among the most actively traded securities, shares of Beximco Pharmaceuticals dominated the turnover chart, with transactions worth Tk 325 million. Investor interest in the stock surged following the company's strong financial results disclosed on Tuesday, which showed record annual earnings driven by robust sales growth and rising demand for its products.

Meanwhile, trading at the Chittagong Stock Exchange was comparatively weaker. The benchmark CASPI index slipped 1 point to 15,118, while the CSCX index lost 4 points to 9,236 in early trading, contrasting with the marginally positive trend seen on the DSE.

Analysts said the market is currently undergoing a consolidation phase, with investors selectively accumulating fundamentally sound stocks while remaining cautious about external risks and the pace of economic recovery.

The positive market breadth, despite the subdued index movement, indicates that investors continue to seek opportunities in individual stocks rather than making broad-based market bets.

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