United News of Bangladesh

Asian stock markets mostly moved higher on Wednesday, following a strong rally on Wall Street as oil prices declined amid hopes that the United States and Iran may resume talks to end their conflict. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.4% in afternoon trading to 58,122.52. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was nearly unchanged, edging up less than 0.1% to 8,978.70. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.1% to 6,092.77. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.4% to 25,980.69, while China’s Shanghai Composite slipped slightly by less than 0.1% to 4,023.40. On Wall Street, stocks closed higher, extending gains from the previous session. The S&P 500 climbed 1.2% and is now just 0.2% below its record high set in January. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 317 points, or 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite surged 2%. In the oil market, U.S. benchmark crude fell 58 cents to $90.70 per barrel. Brent crude edged up 7 cents to $94.86 after dropping sharply by 4.6% a day earlier. Although prices remain above pre-war levels of around $70, they are well below the peak of $119 reached earlier. Lower oil prices help reduce costs for businesses, but analysts cautioned that the ongoing conflict still poses risks. Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, said the drop in oil prices reflects growing expectations that Washington and Tehran could restart negotiations after earlier talks failed. He noted that traders appear to be focusing on the possibility of easing tensions rather than current supply concerns. Asian economies remain heavily reliant on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for crude exports from the Persian Gulf. Any disruption there can tighten global supply and push prices higher. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund said global inflation is expected to rise to 4.4% this year from 4.1% in 2025, revising its earlier forecast of a slowdown to 3.8%. The IMF also lowered its global growth outlook to 3.1% from the 3.3% projected in January. Overall, the S&P 500 gained 81.14 points to 6,967.38, the Dow rose 317.74 to 48,535.99, and the Nasdaq added 455.35 to 23,639.08. In the bond market, U.S. Treasury yields declined as easing oil prices reduced inflation concerns. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.25% from 4.30%. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar strengthened slightly to 158.95 Japanese yen from 158.79 yen, while the euro slipped to $1.1790 from $1.1797.

Asian stock markets mostly rose Tuesday amid cautious trading, as oil prices surged ahead of a U.S. deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face possible attacks on its infrastructure. Japan’s Nikkei 225 edged up 0.1% to close at 53,429.56. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 jumped 1.7% to 8,728.80, while South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.8% to 5,494.78. China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.3% to 3,890.16. Trading was closed in Hong Kong for a holiday. On Wall Street, stock indexes also moved higher. The S&P 500 added 0.4%, coming off its first weekly gain in six weeks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 165 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5%. In energy markets, U.S. crude jumped $2.41 to $114.82 a barrel, while Brent crude rose $1.46 to $111.23 a barrel well above pre-war levels of around $70. Oil prices have been volatile amid uncertainty over the war with Iran and its impact on global oil and gas supplies. Iran rejected the latest ceasefire proposal Monday, calling instead for a permanent end to the conflict. Analysts at Mizuho Bank in Singapore said President Trump’s repeated ultimatums are part of a growing cycle of escalation. “Hopes for a complete resolution remain slim as countries seek bilateral solutions,” they said. Meanwhile, Iranian and Omani officials continued working on a plan to manage the strait, through which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil passes. In bonds, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield held at 4.33%, above its pre-war level of 3.97%. In currency markets, the dollar edged up to 159.86 yen from 159.62, while the euro fell slightly to $1.1541 from $1.1543.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday told Parliament that the government has a specific plan to develop the country’s stock market and make it vibrant and dynamic aiming to turn it into a long-term source of financing. “The government is firmly committed to strengthening the capital market and transforming it into a sustainable and long-term financing hub,” he said replying to a starred tabled question from ruling party MP from Noakhali-5 Mohammad Fakhrul Islam. The minister said the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has been working relentlessly to achieve this goal. Finance Minister Amir Khosru returns home after hospital treatment “Considering the vital role of the capital market in economic development, the government has included specific commitments in its election manifesto to improve the sector,” he said. Khosru noted that investors’ confidence is closely linked with capital market development. “Therefore, the government has taken initiatives to ensure good governance, transparency, accountability, diversification of financial products, and expansion of investment education to build a sustainable capital market,” he said. The government has taken several initiatives to enhance market depth, including forming a strong bond market, to establish the capital market as a major source of long-term financing, listing fundamentally strong companies in the stock market, and listing unlisted state-owned enterprises, he said. The minister said steps are being taken to introduce Exchange Traded Funds (ETF), Sukuk (Islamic bonds), and green bonds, ensure good governance in mutual funds to attract general investors, and introduce commodity and financial derivatives. To ensure transparency, accountability, and discipline in the market, the government is working to curb irregularities and market manipulation, strengthen investigation and enforcement activities, modernise and digitise the capital market, ensure easy market access from home and abroad, protect whistleblowers, and ensure corporate governance, he said. Khosru said a draft of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Act, 2025 is under review by merging the Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969 and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Act, 1993. He also said a draft of the Capital Market Stabilisation Fund Act, 2026 is also under review to ensure proper management and settlement of undistributed dividends, IPO funds, and unclaimed shares. In addition, new rules are being formulated for whistleblower protection, corporate governance rules 2026, amendments to Debt Securities Rules 2021 to include sustainable bonds, and enlistment of panel auditors and audit firms, the minister said. He said to increase investment awareness, the government is planning to include investment education in school, college, and university curricula, organise nationwide training for young entrepreneurs, and involve district and upazila administrations in awareness programmes. The minister said divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and Upazila Nirbahi Officers are being engaged in awareness activities, while district information offices are expanding public awareness campaigns. Under the “Safe Investment, Aware Citizen” programme, grassroots training and campaigns are being conducted. Investment-related content and videos are regularly uploaded on BSEC’s website, Facebook, and YouTube channels, he said. Khosru added that Bangladesh Television has taken an initiative to broadcast a fortnightly investment education programme titled “Pujibazarer Jana-Ajana.”

Asian share markets slipped on Thursday, while oil prices climbed back near $100 per barrel as hopes for easing tensions in the Iran conflict remained unclear. U.S. futures dropped by 0.5%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.3% to 53,603.65, while South Korea’s Kospi saw a sharper decline of 3.2% to 5,460.46. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index dropped 1.9% to 24,856.43, and China’s Shanghai Composite lost 1.1% to 3,889.08. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped slightly by 0.1%, and Taiwan’s Taiex was down 0.3%. Oil prices increased again on Thursday. Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose 3.3% to $100.41 per barrel after falling below $95 the previous day. U.S. crude also climbed 3.8% to $93.74 per barrel. The rise in oil prices followed Iran’s rejection of a U.S.-proposed ceasefire plan on Wednesday. The proposal, put forward by the administration of President Donald Trump, included 15 points aimed at easing tensions. Trump also delayed his earlier deadline to take strong action against Iran’s power facilities in an effort to push Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iran carried out further attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab nations, while Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran. The U.S. is also preparing to send additional troops to the region. The Strait of Hormuz — a key route between Iran and Oman through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes — has remained mostly closed since the conflict began. As a result, oil prices have been volatile, rising roughly 40% over the past four weeks. On Wednesday, U.S. stock markets ended higher. The S&P 500 rose 0.5% to 6,591.90, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7% to 46,429.49, and the Nasdaq composite increased 0.8% to 21,929.83. Shares of Arm Holdings surged 16.4% in the U.S. after the British company announced plans to produce and sell its own chips, a move expected to boost future earnings. Meanwhile, shares of Swiss sportswear brand On Holding dropped 11.2% after its CEO Martin Hoffmann announced he would step down. The company has appointed its two co-founders as co-CEOs. In early Thursday trading, gold and silver prices declined. Gold fell 2.7% to $4,428.80 per ounce, while silver dropped 5.2% to $68.88 per ounce. The U.S. dollar edged up slightly to 159.49 Japanese yen from 159.47 yen, while the euro remained unchanged at $1.1559.

U.S. stock markets moved lower on Friday, heading toward a fourth straight week of losses, although a slight drop in oil prices helped calm markets in other parts of the world. The S&P 500 fell 0.5% in early trading and was on track for its longest weekly losing streak in a year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 126 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.8%. Rising bond yields continued to put pressure on U.S. stocks. Higher yields make borrowing more expensive for businesses and consumers, which can slow economic growth and reduce investment demand. Yields have been increasing since the war with Iran began, as investors worry that higher oil and gas prices could push inflation up. Due to these concerns, traders are now less hopeful that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this year. According to market data, some investors are even considering a small chance of a rate hike in 2026 — something that seemed very unlikely before the conflict. Lower interest rates usually support economic growth and stock prices, and Donald Trump has repeatedly called for cuts. However, reducing rates too quickly could worsen inflation. Outside the United States, markets showed more stability after Thursday’s sharp declines. Stock indexes rose slightly in Europe and gained 0.3% in South Korea, although markets in China fell. The relative calm came as oil prices eased. Brent crude slipped 0.3% to $108.29 per barrel, while U.S. benchmark crude remained nearly unchanged at $95.53. Oil prices have been highly volatile since the war began, rising from around $70 per barrel. Markets are closely watching how long the conflict will last and its impact on energy supplies, especially in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments that Iran has restricted. Among individual companies, Super Micro Computer shares plunged 28.2% after U.S. authorities accused a senior executive and others of illegally exporting advanced chips to China. The company said it is cooperating with investigators and has suspended the employees involved. On the positive side, FedEx rose 2.8% after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profits. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury climbed to 4.32%, up from 4.25% a day earlier and significantly higher than 3.97% before the war began.

Asian stock markets advanced on Wednesday, led by gains in Japan and South Korea, as oil prices eased slightly despite a series of attacks by Iran on its Gulf neighbors. U.S. stock futures also rose 0.6% following moderate gains on Wall Street, ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision later in the day. Analysts expect the Fed to keep rates unchanged amid concerns that higher oil prices could push inflation up. Global oil and gas supply worries continue to weigh on markets. Brent crude, the international benchmark, dropped 2% to around $101 per barrel, down from over $106 on Monday. U.S. crude fell 3.6% to $92.78 per barrel. Iran launched multiple attacks on Gulf countries and Israel on Wednesday after one of its top leaders was killed in an airstrike. The strikes, which included missiles designed to bypass air defenses, reportedly killed two near Tel Aviv. Despite the escalation, markets largely shrugged off the tensions. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 2.9% to 55,239.40 after February exports came in higher than expected. South Korea’s Kospi surged 5% to 5,925.03, boosted by lower oil prices benefiting major importers. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 0.8% to 26,076.00, while Shanghai’s Composite Index gained 0.3% to 4,063.77. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.3%, Taiwan’s Taiex rose 1.5%, and India’s Sensex advanced 0.9%. Analysts from ING Bank noted that global oil flows remain limited, even as hopes grow that Iran may allow more vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for nearly a fifth of the world’s crude oil. The strait has been largely closed to ships linked to the U.S., Israel, and their allies. In U.S. markets on Tuesday, the S&P 500 rose 0.3%, the Dow Jones edged up 0.1%, and the Nasdaq gained 0.5%. Delta Air Lines shares jumped 6.6% after raising its revenue forecast amid strong demand. Uber Technologies rose 4.2%, announcing plans to expand its autonomous vehicle partnership with Nvidia in San Francisco and Los Angeles next year. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar fell to 158.76 Japanese yen from 159.01 yen, while the euro inched up to $1.1544 from $1.1542.

Trading at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) was marked by a downward trend on Wednesday, the fourth working day of the week, with key indices slipping in the first half of the session. At the DSE, the benchmark DSEX lost 7 points by midday. The Shariah-based DSES remained unchanged, while the blue-chip DS30 index declined by 2 points. Losers outnumbered gainers on the premier bourse, as share prices of 182 companies fell against 126 that advanced, while 82 issues remained unchanged. The turnover at the DSE stood at Tk 280 crore in the first half of trading. A similar trend was observed at the CSE, where the overall CASPI index shed 36 points during the same period. Of the traded issues at the port city bourse, 62 companies saw their share prices decline, while 49 gained and 14 remained unchanged. The CSE recorded a turnover of Tk 2 crore in the first half of the session.

Stocks closed the week on a sharp downturn on Thursday as key indices at both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) fell significantly, with most listed companies witnessing price erosion and overall turnover declining. The market failed to rebound on the last trading day despite three consecutive sessions of losses. The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka bourse shed 53 points at the close after remaining in the red throughout the session. The Shariah-based DSES index lost 10 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index declined by 12 points. Losers dominated the DSE trading floor, as prices of 313 companies declined against 46 gainers, while 33 issues remained unchanged. The turnover at the DSE dropped by Tk 376 crore to Tk 559 crore, down from Tk 935 crore in the previous session. In the block market, shares worth Tk 29 crore from 24 companies were traded, with National Bank PLC posting the highest block turnover of Tk 6 crore. Rahima Food Corporation Limited topped the DSE gainers’ chart with a 6 percent rise, while First Finance Limited plunged 10 percent to become the worst loser. Meanwhile, the CSE also witnessed a notable decline, with its benchmark CASPI index falling by 79 points. Stocks slide at DSE, CSE in early trading Of the traded issues at the port city bourse, 113 declined, 46 advanced and 23 remained unchanged. The turnover at the CSE fell by nearly Tk 8 crore to Tk 13 crore, compared to Tk 21 crore in the previous session. Premier Leasing & Finance Limited emerged as the top gainer at the CSE with an almost 8 percent increase, while NRB Bank PLC declined 10 percent to end as the worst performer.

All banks and stock markets in Bangladesh will remain closed for four consecutive days starting Wednesday ( February 11) due to the national  election and the referendum. To facilitate voter participation and ensure smooth security arrangements, the government has declared a two-day public holiday on Wednesday and Thursday. Since these government holidays are immediately followed by the regular weekend holidays of Friday and Saturday, the financial sector will remain inactive for a total of four days. Normal banking operations and stock trading will resume on Sunday (February 15). CA Prof Yunus reviews law & order, election preparations

Bangladesh’s stock market witnessed a strong rally in the first half of trading on Tuesday, with key indices posting sharp gains on both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE). On the third working day of the week, the DSE’s benchmark index DSEX advanced by 54 points. The Shariah-based DSES index rose by 11 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index gained 13 points. Most of the listed companies traded higher, as prices of 297 shares increased against 48 that declined, while 47 issues remained unchanged. The turnover at the DSE crossed Tk 300 crore in the first half of the session. Stocks trade higher as indices rise at DSE, CSE Trading also remained buoyant at the CSE, where the overall index CASPI jumped by 145 points. The share prices of 85 companies rose, while 14 declined and 10 remained unchanged. The port city bourse recorded a turnover of more than Tk 1.60 crore during the first half of trading.