United News of Bangladesh

Following the Eid holidays, trading at the country's stock exchanges resumed on a downward note. Despite gains in the last two sessions of the week, investors did not experience a favourable outcome overall, as selling pressure remained high. Over the week, the benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) dropped by 13 points. The index, which reopened at 5,219 points after the break, settled at 5,205 points by Thursday, 10 April. Alongside the main index, the SME index – representing small and medium enterprises – also slumped. The DSMEX declined by 25 points over the week, marking a 2.54 percent drop in the SME sector. Dhaka bourse sees rise after slump, highest turnover since Eid Of the remaining indices, the Shariah-compliant DSES and blue-chip DS30 managed to avoid the downward trend. The DSES gained 4 points, while the DS30 rose by 13 points. Most companies listed on the DSE witnessed a fall in share prices. Out of the total traded, 235 companies saw a decline in share value, compared to only 141 gaining. The share prices of 19 companies remained unchanged throughout the week. Despite the drop in indices, overall turnover on the DSE increased. Weekly average turnover rose to Tk 487 crore, up from Tk 406 crore in the previous week — an increase of more than 19 percent. In the banking sector, out of 36 listed banks, only 3 recorded gains in share price. In contrast, 28 banks saw a decline, while 5 remained unchanged. The sectoral index gained 8 points, and turnover rose by 5 percent; however, total returns fell by 1.75 percent. Among other sectors, the cement and mutual fund sectors yielded the highest returns. The cement sector led with a 6.9 percent return, followed by mutual funds at 6.55 percent. The textile sector reported the sharpest decline, with returns dropping by 4.75 percent. Negative returns were also observed in the paper, financial institutions, leather, general insurance, telecom and IT sectors. Bangladesh Shipping Corporation recorded the highest turnover on the DSE this week, with shares worth Tk 248 million traded. The company's share price rose by 5.10 percent. In the block market, Bank Asia led in terms of sales, offloading shares worth Tk 167.9 million throughout the week. Chattogram Market Overview Like Dhaka, the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) also witnessed a fall in its indices. The overall index of the CSE dropped by 32 points over the week. In addition to falling indices, turnover in Chattogram's market declined. Foreign investors express keen interest in Bangladesh: BIDA From a total of Tk 50 crore during the holiday week, the turnover dipped to Tk 43 crore in the following week. Among the 318 companies traded at the CSE, 165 saw price declines, 131 gained, and 22 remained unchanged. Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh topped the list of major performers on the CSE, with its share price increasing by approximately Tk 30 over the week. In contrast, Ratanpur Steel Re-Rolling Mills Ltd, a Z-category company, recorded the biggest decline, with its share price dropping by Tk 18.51. According to the weekly report from LankaBangla Securities, global developments, including tariff policies by former US President Donald Trump affecting Asian stock markets, along with the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) latest outlook on Bangladesh’s economy, have had varying impacts on the domestic capital market. However, the report suggests that the current relative stability in the domestic economy, combined with expectations of relaxed tariff measures by the Trump administration across major economies, may bring a degree of stability to Bangladesh’s capital markets in the upcoming week.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) ended in positive territory, while the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) closed lower, continuing a downtrend on Thursday, the last trading day of the week. At the DSE, the benchmark index DSEX gained 9 points on Thursday (10 April). The other two indices also edged higher — the Shariah-compliant DSES rose by 3 points, and the blue-chip DS30 index added 5 points. Despite the rise in indices, most listed companies saw a drop in share prices. Out of 395 traded companies, prices increased for 149, declined for 168, and remained unchanged for 78. By category, most shares under the A and B categories experienced price declines. However, companies in the Z category led in gains. Of the 95 Z category companies, 38 saw price increases, 26 registered declines, and 31 remained unchanged. Among mutual funds, the majority recorded no price change. Of the 36 listed funds, 13 gained, 7 declined, and 16 remained flat. In the DSE block market, shares worth Tk 39.23 crore of 26 companies were traded. Bank Asia accounted for the highest block transaction, selling shares worth Tk 8 crore. Overall, the DSE posted a turnover of Tk 540 crore on Thursday, the highest of the week, up from Tk 527 crore the previous day. Eastern Cables Limited topped the gainers’ list at the DSE with a 9.92% increase. The company's share opened at Tk 114.90 and closed at Tk 119.70. On the losing end, FAS Finance and Investment Limited saw the biggest drop, losing 5% or Tk 0.20 per share. Chittagong Market Slips In contrast, the CSE witnessed a downbeat session, with its overall index falling by 20 points. Although the index declined, a majority of the traded companies saw their share prices increase. Of the 216 companies traded, prices rose for 97, fell for 86, and remained unchanged for 33. Turnover also declined at the CSE. The day’s total transaction amounted to Tk 6.48 crore, down from Tk 9.82 crore the previous day. Shamarita Hospital Limited emerged as the top gainer on the CSE with a 10% rise. The company's share price increased by Tk 7 in a single day. Meanwhile, Zahinttex Industries Limited was the worst performer, losing 9.62%. Its share price dropped from Tk 5.20 to Tk 4.70 by the end of trading.  

The stock exchanges of the country showed contrasting trends on Thursday, the last trading day of the week. While Dhaka's market saw a rise in indices, Chittagong experienced a slight decline. In the first half of trading, all the indices at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) saw an increase. The main index, DSEX, rose by 15 points. The Shariah-based DSES index increased by 3 points, while the blue-chip DSE-30 index gained 4 points. In terms of stock prices, most companies saw an increase. Out of 209 companies, 97 saw a decrease in prices, and 86 remained unchanged. In the first two hours of trading, the DSE’s turnover surpassed Tk 270 crore. DSE, 2 other South Asian stock markets unite to drive regional growth Meanwhile, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) experienced a decline in its overall index, which dropped by 3 points. Despite this, most of the stocks in the market saw price increases. Of the 134 companies participating in the trading, 58 saw an increase in stock prices, 51 experienced a drop, and 25 remained unchanged. During the first two hours of trading at the CSE, over Tk 1.6 crore worth of shares and units were bought and sold. This dissimilar market trend between Dhaka and Chittagong has generated mixed reactions among investors.

After three days of decline, the Dhaka Stock Exchange rebounded on Wednesday, recording its highest turnover since the Eid holidays. The DSEX, the benchmark index of the DSE, gained 10 points on the day. Among the other two indices, the Shariah-based DSES rose by 2 points, while the blue-chip DS30 dropped by 2 points. Despite the overall index increase, most company share prices fell on the day. Out of 395 companies that traded, 144 saw gains, 193 declined and the prices of 58 remained unchanged. Price declines were observed across all three categories—A, B, and Z—with the majority of shares in each category ending lower. Stock indices decline in Dhaka, Chittagong markets; trading volume rises The mutual fund sector, which had shown resilience during the previous day's decline, struggled on Wednesday. Of the 36 mutual funds, only 4 saw price increases, while 24 declined and 8 remained unchanged. In the DSE block market, shares worth Tk 22.99 crore were traded across 27 companies. Among them, Lovello Ice Cream posted the highest block market transaction, with shares worth Tk 4 crore traded. Total turnover on the DSE stood at Tk 527 crore—the highest since the end of the Eid holidays. The week had started with Tk 415 crore in turnover, marking a rise of over Tk 100 crore by the fourth trading day. Confidence Cement led the gainers, soaring 10% to top the day’s list. It opened at Tk 50 per share and closed at Tk 55. Conversely, Beach Hatchery was the day’s worst performer, losing 9.92% of its value. The stock started trading at Tk 98.80 per share but dropped to Tk 89 by the end of the session. Chittagong Bourse in Decline While the DSE posted gains, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) failed to follow suit. The overall index of the CSE lost 3 points by the close of trade. Out of 219 companies that participated in trading, 85 advanced, 103 declined, and 31 remained unchanged. But, the CSE did see an increase in turnover compared to the previous session. Shares and units worth Tk 9.82 crore were traded, up from Tk 6.50 crore the day before. KAY&QUE topped the CSE gainers, rising by 9.96%, while Delta Spinners plummeted 10% to end as the biggest loser.

The Dhaka stock market had an unfavorable week, with all indices consistently declining and the majority of company shares following a downward trend. A review of the Dhaka Stock Exchange's (DSE) weekly trading reveals that, over the course of five working days, the main index DSEX fell by 23 points. Starting at 5,225 points, the index ended the week at 5,201 points. Among the other two indices, the Shariah-based DSES dropped by 13 points and the blue-chip company index, DS-30, saw a decrease of 7 points. Wall Street's sell-off slows a bit on Tuesday The situation was particularly dire for small and medium-sized companies. The SME index of DSE fell by 16 points, with the sector losing 1.63% of its index over the week. Throughout the week, most company shares showed a downward trend. While 149 companies saw price increases, 207 companies saw declines in their share prices. The prices of 38 companies remained unchanged, and 18 companies did not participate in the trading. From the start of the week, as the prices of most shares fell, a rush of share selling ensued among investors. This led to increased trading volume, but it did not result in a rise in the overall share prices. The average daily turnover on DSE during the five trading days was Tk 478 crore, which was nearly 22% higher than the previous week.  Despite the increased trading volume, the total market capitalisation decreased. According to data from brokerage houses, many investors have left the market, causing investor confidence to plummet. As per the DSE's weekly report, the market capitalisation decreased by USD 333 million over the week. Stock Market registers fall on first day of Ramadan trading Throughout the week, sectors such as banking, IT, life insurance, textiles, general insurance, tannery, telecom, and jute saw a significant decrease in returns. On the other hand, mutual funds, ceramics, real estate, paper industry, financial institutions, corporate bonds, engineering, energy, and pharmaceuticals witnessed good returns. Among these, mutual funds showed the highest return of 5.14%. The most traded stock of the week was Shinepukur Ceramics, with a total transaction of Tk 16.19 crore over the five working days. Square Pharmaceuticals PLC was second, with a total of Tk 14.5 crore in transactions for the week. In the block market, the highest volume of shares was sold from Marico. Express Insurance Limited, Bank Asia, Beach Hatchery, and Khan Brothers followed in terms of highest sales. In the list of companies that saw the highest price increase over the week, Progressive Life Insurance Limited topped the list, with a 30% increase in its share price. The company’s shares, which started at Tk 47, ended the week at Tk 62. Stock market trends maintain upward momentum in Dhaka, Chattogram Conversely, the worst-performing company in terms of price drop was Alif Industries Limited, whose share price decreased by 13.57%. Starting at Tk 65, the share price fell to Tk 56 by the end of the week. In a bid to improve the dire state of the stock market, the government formed a four-member committee on Monday (17 March) for the development of the market. The committee’s purpose, as stated, is to further strengthen the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) and, ultimately, to work on the overall development of the country's stock market. The first meeting of this committee was held on the last working day of the week, chaired by the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Anisulzaman Chowdhury. Market participants are saying that both the task force and the committee must take effective measures, as mere meetings will not solve the ongoing problems in the market. On the other hand, the downtrend of the index continued at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE). The overall index at CSE fell by 17 points. Although trading began at 14,576 points, by the end of the week, the index stood at 14,559 points. Throughout the week, 302 companies participated in the CSE's trading, with the share prices of 154 companies rising, 124 companies' prices falling, and 24 companies maintaining unchanged prices. Stock indices decline in Dhaka, Chittagong markets; trading volume rises During the five trading days, the highest trading volume was recorded for shares of United Commercial Bank. Other companies among the top traded included Uttara Bank, Fine Foods, Robi, Fu-Wan Ceramics, and Shinepukur Ceramics. The top performer in terms of price increase at CSE was Paramount Insurance Company, with the share price increasing by Tk 10 within a week. Other companies in strong positions include Shinepukur Ceramics, DBH First Mutual, Semi Lecture Equity Management, and S Alam Cold Rolled Steels. On the other hand, the highest price decrease was seen in Suhrid Industries Limited, with a fall of Tk 15 in its share price within the week. Like the DSE, a sharp decline was also observed in Alif Industries at CSE, with its share price falling by Tk 14 during the five trading days.

Stock indices in both Dhaka and Chittagong's stock markets saw a decline on the fourth trading day of the week on Wednesday. While all the indices dropped in both markets, overall trading volume increased. The main index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), DSEX, decreased by 2 points. Among the other two indices, the Shariah-based DSES dropped by 1 point and the DS-30 index fell by more than half a point. Despite the decline in the indices, trading volume saw an increase compared to the previous day. A total of Tk 482 crore worth of shares and units were traded on the DSE, up from Tk 451 crore the previous day. The share prices of most companies participating in the trading session fell. Out of 395 companies, 150 saw price increases, while 186 companies experienced price declines. The prices of shares for 59 companies remained unchanged throughout the day. Stock market trends maintain upward momentum in Dhaka, Chattogram In terms of categories, the majority of shares in the A and Z categories saw price declines, while most shares in the B category saw price increases. Of the 82 companies in the mid-range B category, 39 saw price increases, 33 saw price decreases, and 10 experienced no change in share prices. Among mutual funds, 24 out of the 36 listed companies experienced price increases. Four companies saw a decrease in prices, while the prices of eight companies remained unchanged. In the block market, shares worth Tk 26.92 crore were sold from 26 companies. Among these, Bank Asia saw the highest trading value, selling shares worth Tk 10.78 crore in the block market. Of the companies traded on the DSE, Prime Finance First Mutual Fund was at the top with a 10% price increase, while Tallu Spinning Mills was at the bottom with a 3.39% price decrease. Chittagong Market Also Sees Decline Similar to Dhaka, Chittagong's stock market also experienced a decline. The overall index of the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) fell by over 1 point. Despite the decline in the index, trading volume increased in the CSE as well. A total of Tk 6.94 crore worth of shares and units were traded on the CSE, compared to Tk 3.83 crore the previous day. Out of 193 companies that participated in the trading session, 86 saw price increases, 79 experienced price declines, and 28 saw no change in prices. In the CSE, Padma Islamic Life Insurance Limited led the market with a 10% price increase, while Beach Hatchery Limited saw the largest price decline, down 9.97%.

The DSE Brokers Association (DBA) has sought the intervention of the chief adviser to bring good companies to the stock market. The DBA, an organization of brokerage house owners of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), sought this intervention in a letter written to Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday. The letter was given by DBA President Saifur Islam, according to a press release. The DBA said that the capital market has been going through extreme irregularities, mismanagement and instability for 15 years. Due to various irregularities, numerous institutions in the stock market have become almost ineffective and failed institutions. During this time, the market has shrunk by 40 percent in real terms. Again, the market has suffered irreparable damage due to the lowest price level or floor price in several rounds since 2020, said the letter. As a result, international fund managers have turned their backs on Bangladesh, and local investors' investments have also been damaged. In the last 15 years, crores of taka have been looted from the market through unscrupulous initial public offerings (IPO) listings. This has created a permanent liquidity and confidence crisis in the market, said the DBA President in the letter. JCI Dhaka Heritage launches  “ALOK," The DBA also said that in the current situation, there has been a serious crisis of trust among market participants including regulatory agencies, market management agencies, listed companies, market intermediaries and financial auditors, and credit rating agencies. “To overcome this crisis and enrich the market, good companies should be listed along with new products. Investors will also benefit from this. Through this, new investors will be attracted to the market and the liquidity problem will also be solved,” the letter wrote.

The uptrend in the stock market continues, with both the Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges reporting increased trading on the third trading day of the week, Tuesday. Along with the rise in the main indexes, the prices of most companies' stocks and overall trading volume have also surged. On the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the main index, DSEX, rose by 8 points. The two other indices—Shariah-based DSES and the blue-chip stock index DS-30—also saw increases, with both rising by 4 points each. Most stocks on the DSE experienced a price increase. Out of 397 companies that participated in the trading, the stock prices of 182 companies went up, while 138 saw a decrease and 77 remained unchanged. Bangladesh’s stock market plunges on week’s first trading day In terms of category-wise performance, stocks in the 'A' category, which represents well-performing companies, and 'B' category stocks, representing mid-level companies, saw price hikes. But the 'Z' category, which includes companies with lower performance, saw a decline in stock prices. Among the 97 companies in this category, 31 saw price increases, while 42 experienced a drop, and 24 companies had unchanged stock prices. Of the 36 mutual funds that traded, the prices of most remained unchanged. In contrast, 12 mutual funds saw price increases, while 7 experienced a decrease. In the block market, 29 companies participated in trading, with shares worth 21.67 crore taka being sold. Beach Hatchery led the pack with the highest sales, reaching 7.82 crore taka. In terms of performance, S Alam Cold Rolled Steels saw a notable price increase of 10%, topping the list, while Summit Power Limited experienced a 6.29% drop, landing at the bottom of the market. After six consecutive trading days, the total transaction on the DSE has now reached the 400 crore taka mark. The day’s total trading amounted to 412 crore taka in shares and units, a rise from the previous day’s 338 crore taka. Growth Trend Continues in Chattogram Alongside Dhaka, Chattogram’s stock market is also experiencing an upward trend in its indexes. On the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), the overall index increased by 35 points. Out of the 205 companies involved in trading, 102 saw their stock prices rise, while 68 experienced a decrease and 35 remained unchanged. The total trading volume on the CSE was Tk 11 crore, a significant rise from the previous day's 4 Tk crore. Among the top performers, Legacy Footwear Limited saw a 10% increase in its stock price, while Phoenix Insurance Limited dropped by 10%, placing it at the bottom of the list.

The past week has seen persistent declines in the stock market index, reduced trading volume, and internal conflicts within the regulatory body, all contributing to the ongoing instability. Over the last five trading days, despite a slight recovery in the final two sessions, the overall market trend remained negative. The Dhaka Stock Exchange’s (DSE) benchmark index, DSEX, fell by 43 points. Starting at 5,247 points on 2 March, the index dropped to 5,203 points by the closing session on March 6. Meanwhile, the blue-chip DS30 index shed 15 points, while the Shariah-based DSES index declined by 6 points over the week. The SME index experienced a severe downturn, falling below 1,000 points after a continuous decline. The DMMA index dropped from 1,017 points to 970 points, marking a 4.65% decrease from the previous week. Among the traded companies, most saw a decline in their share prices. Out of 289 companies that experienced a drop, only 86 recorded a price increase, while 20 remained unchanged. Trading volume in Dhaka's stock market fell by 28.79% in one week. Bangladesh’s stock market sees slight recovery after consecutive declines The daily average turnover, which had previously exceeded Tk 500 crore, plummeted to Tk 300 crore. Simultaneously, market capitalisation declined by 1.90%. Only three sectors—energy, paper, and leather—saw price increases throughout the week. In contrast, major sectors witnessed a significant downturn. The banking sector suffered a 27.61% decline in share prices, with trading volume decreasing by 31.91%. Out of 36 listed banks, 23 recorded a price drop, while only 4 banks witnessed an increase. The financial institutions sector faced an even worse situation, with a 29.49% drop in share prices and a 40.95% decline in trading volume. Among 23 listed financial institutions, 19 experienced a decline, 3 saw an increase, and 1 remained unchanged. The general and life insurance sectors witnessed massive sell-offs. Over five trading days, the general insurance sector saw a 43.23% decrease in share prices, while the life insurance sector faced a 59.16% drop. Top Performers and Market Trends Orion Infusion Limited recorded the highest turnover in Dhaka’s stock market, averaging Tk 21.46 crore in daily transactions. Prime Bank secured the second position, while Beach Hatchery Limited ranked third. In the block market, transactions worth Tk 114.70 crore took place. Prime Bank led with Tk 40 crore in transactions, followed by Beach Hatchery with Tk 18.80 crore. Progressive Life Insurance topped the gainers' list, with its share price increasing by 17.74%. On the other hand, S Alam Cold Rolled Steels Limited suffered the most, with a 14.83% decline. Chittagong Stock Market Also Struggles Similar to Dhaka, Chittagong’s stock market witnessed a declining trend. The overall index started at 14,633 points and fell to 14,502 points by the end of the trading week. Among 329 traded companies, 215 saw price declines, while 29 remained unchanged. Only 85 companies recorded price gains. Dhaka, Chattogram stock markets slump as indices, turnover decline Tasrifa Industries Limited topped the decliners’ list, losing 17.5% in share value over the week. After performing well in February, S Alam Cold Rolled Steels Limited saw a price drop of nearly 17%. Indo-Bangla Pharmaceuticals Limited led the gainers, with its share price rising by 16.98%. National Tea Company Limited, a Z-category firm, saw a 16.58% increase. The most traded stock in Chittagong was Robi, a leading telecom company. Regulatory Turmoil in BSEC In addition to the stock market downturn, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) faced unprecedented internal unrest. Since joining in August 2024, current Chairman Rashed Maksud has been under fire due to continuous market declines, drawing criticism from general investors. Investors and brokerage officials have frequently voiced concerns in the media, stating that the commission’s reform measures, which ignore market sentiment, could further worsen conditions. During the market downturn, general investors demanded Maksud’s resignation, staging protests in Motijheel and even locking the commission’s main gate. Electronic VAT machines made mandatory at highway restaurants to halt cheating: NBR The crisis deepened as BSEC employees turned against Maksud, demanding his resignation. On 5 March, officials and employees of the commission confined the chairman and other commissioners in protest. Security forces later intervened to release them. However, Maksud made it clear that he would not step down. Protesters have warned of an indefinite strike if Maksud does not resign. If the situation remains unresolved, operational paralysis at BSEC is expected from 9 March. A director of DSE, speaking anonymously, stated, “For the past 15 years, BSEC has been operating arbitrarily. These unilateral actions have frustrated stakeholders. Now, internal discontent within the commission itself is sending a negative signal to the market.” Market analysts warn that unless the regulatory crisis is swiftly addressed and the stock market reform task force’s recommendations are gradually implemented, Bangladesh’s stock market may face prolonged instability.

The stock market, which has been fluctuating with ups and downs, saw a rise in Dhaka but a decline in Chattogram on the last trading day (Thursday) of the week. The prices of most companies participating in trading on both markets fell. On the day, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), DSEX, rose by 6 points. The other two indices, the Shariah-based DSES, increased by 2 points, while the blue-chip index DS-30 remained unchanged. Mixed trends in stock markets: DSE gains, CSE declines in early trading During the day, a total of 35.3 billion Tk was traded on the DSE, up from 31.8 billion Tk the previous day. Although the index increased, the prices of most companies involved in trading declined. Out of the 394 companies listed on the DSE, 139 saw a price increase, 169 saw a decrease, and the prices of 86 companies remained unchanged. In terms of categories, the majority of companies in the A, B, and Z categories experienced a price decline. DSE announces new trading hours for Ramadan On the other hand, out of 36 mutual funds, most of the prices remained unchanged, with 7 companies’ prices increasing, and 7 companies’ prices decreasing. In the block market, a total of 23 companies' shares, worth 4.365 billion Tk, were sold. Prime Bank had the largest share sale, amounting to 2.65 billion Tk. Among the top performers on the DSE, Desco (Dhaka Electric Supply Company) saw a price increase of 9.96%, while Alhaj Textile Limited experienced the largest decline of 9.75%. Decline in Chattogram While Dhaka saw a rise, the Chattogram stock market faced a decline on the last trading day of the week. On the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), the overall index dropped by 3 points. Out of the 228 companies involved in trading, 73 saw an increase in their prices, 115 saw a decrease, and the prices of 40 companies remained unchanged. Along with the drop in the index, trading volume also decreased on the CSE. A total of 300 million Tk worth of shares and units were traded, down from over 350 million Tk the previous day. On the final day of trading, C&Z Textiles Limited topped the CSE with a 10% price increase, while Hamid Fabrics PLC saw the biggest drop with a 10% price decline. END/UNB/MM/SAM