The stock markets in Dhaka and Chattogram experienced a series of declines throughout the week, with no significant recovery on the final trading day, leaving investors disappointed.
After the close of trading on Thursday, the Dhaka Stock Exchange's (DSE) main index, DSEX, ended at a near-zero level, increasing by just 0.38%.
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The Shariah-compliant DSE Index (DSES) fell by 3 points, while the blue-chip DSE-30 index gained 7 points.
Over the course of the week, the DSEX lost 54 points.
Investors expressed their frustration, stating that the index had fallen on four out of the five trading days, and the small rise on the final day did little to ease concerns.
They warned that if this trend continues, there will be a further decline in market investments.
According to Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL), over the past week, 1,600 investors withdrew all their funds from their Beneficiary Owner (BO) accounts, a clear indication of waning interest in the market.
Among the 395 companies traded on the DSE, most experienced a fall in share prices.
While 120 companies saw price increases, 219 companies saw declines, and 56 companies remained unchanged.
Within the A-category, 63 companies saw price increases, while 125 faced decreases, with 29 remaining stable. In the B-category, 30 companies' prices rose, 47 companies saw a fall, and 10 remained unchanged.
In the Z-category, 27 companies saw an increase in price, 44 experienced a drop, and 17 remained the same.
Among the mutual funds traded, 16 companies saw a decrease in price, while 14 remained unchanged, and 7 saw an increase.
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In the block market, 32.55 million shares of 34 companies were traded for a total of 1.95 billion Tk.
EnergyPac Power Generation PLC led the market in price increases, with its shares rising by 9.6% in a single day. On the other hand, Prime Finance First Mutual Fund saw a 12% decline, ranking as the highest fall in value.
Despite the index decline, trading activity saw an increase compared to the previous day. The total value of shares and units traded on the DSE reached 3.89 billion Tk, up from 3.14 billion Tk the previous day.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also experienced a significant drop in its index, which fell by 38 points. Among the 211 companies traded, 121 saw their prices fall, while 60 saw price increases, and 30 remained unchanged.
Similar to the DSE, trading activity on the CSE also rose, with a total of 12 million Tk worth of shares and units being traded, compared to just 4 million Tk the day before.
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On the CSE, the First Bangladesh Fixed Income Fund saw a 10% price increase, while Prime Finance First Mutual Fund experienced the highest price drop of 11.49%, mirroring the trend seen in Dhaka.
As the week concludes, investor sentiment remains low, with many expressing concerns over the continued market downturn.