United News of Bangladesh

Trading on the final working day of the week began on a bearish note at both the Dhaka and Chattogram bourses, with all key indices witnessing early declines in the first hour of trade on Thursday. Bangladesh’s stock market suffers continuous decline for 5th consecutive day At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX index shed 19 points in the opening hour.  Among the other indices, the Shariah-based DSES dropped by 8 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index edged down by 1 point. Despite the fall in indices, share prices of most listed companies moved slightly upwards.  Bangladesh's stock market opens on upbeat note  Of the securities traded during the first hour, prices advanced for 156 companies, declined for 100, and remained unchanged for 89. Turnover on the DSE crossed Tk 50 crore in the first hour. Meanwhile, the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) also opened lower, with its key index down by 35 points in early trading. Out of the 65 issues traded on the CSE, 22 gained in value, 31 declined, and 12 remained unchanged. The turnover at the CSE exceeded Tk 40 lakh in the opening hour.    

South Korea’s central bank cut its key interest rate and sharply lowered its growth outlook for the country’s economy in 2025, as it moved Thursday to counter US President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes and weak domestic demand worsened by recent political turmoil. Following a monetary policy meeting, the Bank of Korea cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point to 2.5 per cent. It was its fourth cut since October, when it began lowering borrowing costs for the first time in years to support a weakening economy. The bank slashed its 2025 growth outlook to 0.8 per cent, nearly halving its previous projection of 1.5 per cent announced in February. Share prices jumped, with the Kospi gaining 1.7 per cent. Although trade tensions have recently eased, the global economy is still expected to slow due to the lingering effects of increased tariffs. Trump says he'll delay a threatened 50% tariff on the European Union until July US-China friction over trade and geopolitical uncertainties will continue to weigh on markets, the bank said in a statement. South Korea’s domestic economic activity remained sluggish in April following a contraction in the first quarter driven by weak consumption and business investment, the bank said. It said job creation in manufacturing and other sectors was slow. Since beginning his second term, Trump has vowed to slap huge new tariffs on foreign products entering the United States, including those from Mexico, Canada and China, which he insists will create more domestic jobs and shrink the federal deficit. In recent weeks, South Korea has sent trade officials to Washington to discuss the Trump administration’s trade measures, including reciprocal tariffs and potential product-specific duties on semiconductors and cars, which are major exports for the country’s trade-dependent economy. A decision by a US federal court saying Trump lacks the legal authority to impose such tariffs could upset his plans, but the White House has appealed and it's unclear what will happen in the longer run. Experts say South Korea's leverage in trade talks and its ability to tackle domestic economic challenges have been undermined by political instability after former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s ill-fated imposition of martial law in December. Yoon was formally ousted from office in April, setting the stage for a snap presidential election next week.

All jewellery shops across Bangladesh will remain closed for an indefinite period starting Thursday morning in protest against the arrest of Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) Vice-President Riponul Hasan, the association announced on Wednesday.  In a press release, BAJUS stated that Riponul Hasan was arrested by police in a "false and harassing" case.  The organisation has demanded his unconditional release and strongly condemned the arrest. "As a protest and to press for his immediate and unconditional release, all jewellery establishments across the country, including in Dhaka, will remain closed indefinitely," the statement said. Gold price increased by Tk 1364 per bhori from Sunday Association's Acting President Gulzar Ahmed and General Secretary Badal Chandra Roy, along with other central leaders, expressed grave concern over the incident and issued a strong condemnation. Riponul Hasan was detained by police around 7:30pm on Wednesday from his business premises in Tantibazar, the capital’s key jewellery hub. BAJUS called upon authorities to withdraw what they described as a "fabricated and harassing" case and to ensure the immediate release of their leader.

The stock market remained in distress on the fifth and final trading day of the week, extending the downward trend witnessed over the past several days. All indices in both the Dhaka and Chattogram bourses recorded losses, with the majority of listed companies seeing a decline in share prices.  Stocks slide sharply in early trading at DSE, CSE On the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark index DSEX fell by 62 points. The Shariah-based DSES dropped by 16 points, while the blue-chip index DS30 shed 15 points. Out of 398 traded companies, share prices increased for only 63, whereas 295 saw a decline, and 40 remained unchanged. The slump affected companies across all categories — A, B, and Z. In particular, category ‘A’, which includes fundamentally strong companies with regular dividends, saw notable losses. Among 219 companies in this category, only 29 gained in value, while 168 declined and 22 remained unchanged. In DSE’s block market, shares of 24 companies worth Tk 9.8 crore were traded. Fine Foods topped the list with transactions worth Tk 5 crore. The DSE recorded a total turnover of Tk 264 crore, slightly down from Tk 272 crore the previous day. Heidelberg Materials Bangladesh led the gainers on the DSE, with its share price rising by 8.73 per cent, while NRB Bank faced the steepest decline, plunging by 9.80 per cent. Decline Continues in Chattogram A similar trend was observed in the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE), where the overall index dropped by 138 points. Of the 194 companies that traded on the CSE, 38 saw gains, 138 experienced losses and 18 remained unchanged. Bangladesh's stock market opens on upbeat note  The CSE recorded a turnover of Tk 18 crore, up from Tk 10 crore the previous day. Quasem Industries Limited topped the CSE gainers’ list with a 10 per cent price increase, while Aamra Networks Limited recorded the biggest loss, dropping by over 9.84 per cent.    

After a brief positive start, both Dhaka and Chattogram stock markets saw a sharp decline in the first two hours of trading on Tuesday, with all major indices falling. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the key index DSEX lost 28 points. The Shariah-based DSES index slipped 5 points while the blue-chip DS30 index dropped 9 points. Of the issues traded, prices advanced for 88 companies, declined for 229 and remained unchanged for 75. Turnover on the DSE crossed Tk 100 crore during the two-hour window. Market swings amid volatile trading at DSE and CSE Over at the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE), the overall index fell by 67 points. Out of 126 companies traded on the CSE, prices rose for 30, declined for 75 and remained unchanged for 21. The turnover in Chattogram crossed Tk 4 crore halfway through the trading session.

A regional association of Southeast Asian nations held a summit Tuesday with China and six Persian Gulf countries in efforts to expand economic engagement and bolster resilience amid global trade volatility due to U.S. tariff hikes. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his opening remarks, said the inaugural summit in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur would open up a new chapter of cooperation. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Gulf Cooperation Council and China have a combined GDP of nearly $25 trillion and a market of over 2 billion people, offering vast opportunities to promote cross-regional investment, he said. “I am confident that ASEAN, the GCC, and China can draw upon our unique attributes and shape a future that is more connected, more resilient, and more prosperous,” he told the summit, attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Li said the three-way cooperation would benefit all sides, contributing to economic development and peace in the region. China is ASEAN's top trading partner, and has sought to present itself as a reliable ally to the region amid its rivalry with the U.S. The GCC supplies over a third of China's crude oil imports. “China will join ASEAN and the GCC in forging synergies that multiply,” he said. Malaysia is the current chair of ASEAN, which also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Salesforce to acquire Informatica in $8 billion deal Earlier Tuesday, Anwar told a separate ASEAN-GCC forum that partnership between the two blocs would be key to navigating an increasingly complex global economy. He later said the two sides planned to launch talks to establish a free trade area. Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah said the two blocs, which held their first summit in Riyadh in 2023, would build on their momentum to deepen cooperation and “improve our ability to face crisis.” He said the GCC is ASEAN's seventh-largest trade partner, with total trade reaching $130.7 billion in 2023. The GCC comprises the oil-producing nations of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Anwar said last week the GCC already has strong links with the U.S. and “wants to be close to China too.” ASEAN has maintained a policy of neutrality, engaging both Beijing and the United States, but U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of sweeping tariffs came as a blow. Six of the bloc's members were among the worst hit, with tariffs between 32% and 49%. Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs in April for most of the world, and this month struck a similar deal with key rival China, easing trade war tensions. ASEAN is seeking a summit with Trump on the tariffs, while moving to expand trade ties with China and others. Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world’s wealthiest men and longest-reigning current monarch, was missing from the three-party summit after he was hospitalized for fatigue. He attended ASEAN summits on Monday and the ASEAN-GCC meeting earlier Tuesday. “He is feeling a little tired, so he’s just resting” at the National Heart Institute, Anwar told reporters. The sultan’s office also issued a statement saying the monarch will rest at the heart institute for “several days” following advice from Malaysian medical experts. It said he was “in good health” but didn’t elaborate. Trump says he'll delay a threatened 50% tariff on the European Union until July Anwar told a news conference at the end of the summit that ASEAN wasn't pivoting towards China but that it works with both Beijing and Washington because it makes economic sense. “I don’t think (ASEAN) is tilting in any way,” he said. Collins Chong Yew Keat, a foreign affairs, strategy and security analyst with Universiti Malaya, said the ASEAN-GCC-China summit underscored Beijing's efforts to strengthen support during its trade battle with the U.S. He noted it came on the heels of Trump’s recent charm offensive in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. While relying on U.S. defense support, ASEAN is increasing reliance and partnership with China and other U.S. rivals, Chong said. The bloc has failed to take strong action against Beijing's aggression in the disputed South China Sea, he said. ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims with China, which asserts sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea. “If this continues under the current Trump administration, it will create further room for Washington to distance itself from the region, which will spell disaster and create an even deeper Chinese presence,” he said. ___ This story has been corrected to show that combined ASEAN-GCC-China GDP is nearly $25 trillion, not $25 billion.

A training workshop on "Granular Data Collection and Analysis" for officers of scheduled banks was held on Tuesday  at the head office of Bangladesh Bank. The Deposit Insurance Department of the central bank organised the workshop for 60 officials of 30 scheduled banks. The workshop was inaugurated by Md. Salim Uddin, director of the Deposit Insurance Department of Bangladesh Bank. The main session of the workshop was conducted by Nur-e-Asma Ndia, additional director, and Tania Sultana, joint director. The event was moderated by Assistant Director Mahua Shahzadi and Assistant Director Md. Abul Basar. Stock markets in Dhaka, Chattogram see four-day losing streak Kakoli Jahan Ahmed, executive director attended as the chief in the closing ceremony, according to a press release.

Salesforce is buying AI-powered cloud data management company Informatica in an approximately $8 billion deal. Informatica's shareholders will receive $25 per share, a premium of about 11% from Friday's closing price of $22.55. The transaction will give Salesforce access to Informatica's data management capabilities, AP reports. “Joining forces with Salesforce represents a significant leap forward in our journey to bring data and AI to life by empowering businesses with the transformative power of their most critical asset — their data,” Informatica CEO Amit Walia said in a statement on Tuesday. “We have a shared vision for how we can help organizations harness the full value of their data in the AI era.” Robin Washington, president and chief operating and financial officer at Salesforce, said in a statement that the acquisition will look to take advantage of Informatica's capabilities quickly, particularly in areas such as the public sector, life sciences, health care, and financial services. San Francisco-based Salesforce is set to report its quarterly financial results Wednesday after the bell. Trump says he'll delay a threatened 50% tariff on the European Union until July Both companies' boards have approved the deal, which is expected to close early in Salesforce’s fiscal 2027. Shares of Salesforce rose slightly before the market open, while Informatica's stock jumped 6%.

Both the Dhaka and Chattogram stock exchanges saw a decline across all indices for the fourth consecutive trading day on Tuesday,  with the majority of listed companies witnessing a fall in share prices and reduced turnover. On the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark index DSEX fell by 41 points. The Shariah-based DSES index declined by 8 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index dropped by 17 points. Out of the 392 companies that traded on the DSE, share prices increased for 83, while 237 saw a decline. The prices of 72 companies remained unchanged. Share prices dropped across all three categories – A, B, and Z. In the A category, which includes companies with a strong dividend record, 125 out of 213 companies saw a decrease in share prices. In contrast, only 49 companies posted gains, while 39 remained unchanged. In the DSE block market, shares worth Tk 17 crore were traded across 33 companies. Fine Foods accounted for the highest block transaction, selling shares worth Tk 5 crore. Overall, the DSE recorded a total turnover of Tk 272 crore, down from Tk 282 crore in the previous session. Market swings amid volatile trading at DSE and CSE The Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) topped the gainers’ list with a 9.83% increase in share price, while NCC Bank suffered the highest loss, declining by 9.65%. Chattogram Also in Decline Similar to Dhaka, the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) also continued its downward trend, with the overall index shedding 49 points. Of the 207 companies that traded on the CSE, 61 posted gains, while share prices dropped for 115. Prices of 31 companies remained unchanged. Total turnover at the CSE stood at Tk 10 crore, slightly lower than the previous day’s turnover of Tk 11 crore. Global Islami Bank led the gainers with a 10% rise, while Bank Asia topped the losers’ list, with its share price falling by more than 17%.

Trading at the country’s twin bourses began on a positive note on Monday, the fourth working day of the week, with indices on the rise and share prices of most listed companies gaining during the opening hour.  Stocks fall for third consecutive day in Bangladesh’s capital market At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark index DSEX gained 20 points within the first hour of trading. Of the other two indices, the Shariah-based DSES rose by 6 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index was up by 2 points. The majority of the traded issues posted gains, with prices increasing for 211 companies, declining for 79, and remaining unchanged for 78. The turnover at the DSE crossed Tk 78 crore during the first hour. Meanwhile, at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), the overall index climbed 11 points during the same period. Of the 81 issues traded on the CSE, prices advanced for 41, declined for 32, and remained unchanged for 8.  Stocks: Dhaka sees gains in early trade, Chattogram dips The turnover at the CSE surpassed Tk 1.80 crore in the first hour of trading.