United News of Bangladesh

Stocks ended the week on a sharp downturn on Thursday as key indices of both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) fell significantly, with the majority of listed companies witnessing price declines. The market opened on a negative note at the DSE and failed to recover throughout the session. At the close, the benchmark DSEX index dropped 82 points. The Shariah-based DSES index lost 13 points while the blue-chip DS30 index declined 33 points. Most of the listed securities ended lower: prices fell for 308 companies, while 52 advanced and 33 remained unchanged. Turnover also declined, with shares and units worth Tk 459 crore traded during the session, down from Tk 582 crore in the previous trading day. In the block market, shares of 34 companies worth about Tk 21 crore were traded, with Orion Infusion PLC leading the chart with transactions worth Tk 4.7 crore. Intech Limited topped the gainers’ list on the DSE with a rise of over 4.5 percent, while First Finance Limited was the worst loser, shedding 10 percent. Meanwhile, the CSE also experienced a sharp fall as its benchmark CASPI index dropped 192 points. Out of the traded issues, 126 companies declined, 41 advanced and 14 remained unchanged. However, turnover at the port city bourse increased nearly fivefold to Tk 41 crore, compared to Tk 8 crore in the previous session. IFL Islamic Mutual Fund-1 emerged as the top gainer at the CSE with a 10 percent rise, while Takaful Islami Insurance PLC was the worst performer, losing 10 percent.

European shares slipped Thursday despite rebounds in Asia and on Wall Street, as Iran launched new attacks and threatened the U.S. U.S. futures also fell back, with the contract for the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 0.5%, while that for the S&P 500 shed 0.3%. Uncertainty about the war in the Middle East has been rattling financial markets, with most taking their cues from what the price of oil is doing. “Yesterday’s bounce in risk assets already looks less like a turning point and more like a classic relief rally in a market that briefly inhaled before realizing the room was still on fire,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. Crude prices climbed early Thursday, with Brent, the international standard, gaining 3.2% to $84 per barrel. U.S. benchmark crude jumped 3.7% to $77.37 per barrel. The war brought a fresh wave of attacks by Iran on Israeli and American bases. Iran warned the United States would “bitterly regret” torpedoing an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean and a religious leader called for “Trump’s blood,” while Israel said it had begun a “large-scale” attack on Tehran. In Germany, the DAX lost 0.5% to 24,087.63, while the CAC 40 in Paris lost 0.6% to 8,118.25. Britain's FTSE 100 edged 0.2% lower, to 10,547.82. In Asian trading, South Korea’s Kospi took back much of its historic losses from a day earlier, jumping 9.6% to 5,583.90. It had gained as much as 12% earlier in the day as investors hunted bargains, triggering temporary trading halts. The government announced emergency measures for the economy after the benchmark fell by the most ever in a single day on Wednesday. President Lee Jae Myung urged officials to activate an emergency financial package worth 100 trillion won ($68.5 billion) aimed at calming market volatility. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index gave back some early gains, closing 1.9% higher at 55,278.06. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng climbed 0.3% to 25,321.34 after Chinese Premier Li Qiang opened the annual session of the National People's Congress with a report that set the annual target for economic growth this year at 4.5% to 5%. A draft budget put the increase in military spending at 7%, down from 7.2% in recent years. The government pledged to support the sluggish domestic economy and spur more consumer spending, but did not announce any major new stimulus. The Shanghai Composite index gained 0.6% to 4,108.57. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.4% to 8,940.30, while New Zealand's benchmark rose 0.6%. Taiwan's main share index gained 2.6%. On Wednesday, U.S. stocks got a boost as oil prices steadied, albeit temporarily. A report that said growth for U.S. businesses in the real estate, finance and other services industries accelerated last month at the fastest pace since the summer of 2022 also helped. The S&P 500 rose 0.8%, erasing much of its losses since the war with Iran began. The Dow industrials added 0.5% and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. Another report suggested U.S. private sector employers stepped up hiring last month, a potentially hopeful signal for a more comprehensive U.S. government Friday about the overall job market. Investors are worried over how long the war with Iran could last, how high inflation may go because of more expensive oil and how much damage that might do to corporate profits. Wall Street also got a lift from Big Tech stocks as Amazon rose 3.9% and Nvidia added 1.7%. Because they’re among the biggest stocks in the U.S. market in terms of total value, their movements carry more weight on the S&P 500. Wednesday’s strong reports on the economy were welcome news for the Federal Reserve, whose job it is to keep the U.S. job market healthy and inflation low. The Fed’s job has become more difficult because of the jump in oil prices, which is pushing upward on already high inflation. In other dealings early Thursday, the U.S. dollar rose to 157.22 Japanese yen from 157.07 yen. The euro fell to $1.1596 from $1.1636. The dollar has advanced against other currencies partly because the U.S. is viewed as facing less risk from the war than other countries, analysts said. “When the world becomes less certain, capital gravitates toward the deepest pool of liquidity available,” Innes said, adding that the dollar “remains the market's preferred storm shelter.”

Stocks ended lower on both bourses on Wednesday, reversing early gains, while overall turnover declined significantly on the day. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX index shed 2 points at the close. The Shariah-based DSES remained unchanged, while the blue-chip DS30 index declined by 4 points. Despite the marginal fall in indices, most listed companies posted gains. Of the traded issues, 227 advanced, 112 declined and 54 remained unchanged. DSE gains in first half as CSE slips despite broader price rise Turnover at the DSE fell sharply to over Tk 580 crore, down from Tk 885 crore in the previous session. In the block market, shares worth Tk 28 crore from 36 companies were traded. Orion Infusion PLC led the segment with nearly Tk 14 crore in transactions. Among the day’s top performers, Sea Pearl Beach Resort & Spa Limited gained nearly 7 percent to top the advancers’ chart, while GSP Finance Company (Bangladesh) PLC plunged around 10 percent to emerge as the worst loser on the DSE. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed in the red, with its broad index CASPI losing 68 points. Most issues on the CSE declined, as 96 companies saw price erosion against 58 gainers, while 16 remained unchanged. Turnover at the port city bourse dropped nearly threefold to Tk 8 crore, compared to Tk 23 crore in the previous session. Zahintex Industries Limited rose 10 percent to lead the gainers at the CSE, while Hakkani Pulp & Paper Mills PLC fell nearly 10 percent to bottom the losers’ list.

Trading on Bangladesh’s bourses showed a mixed trend in the first half on Wednesday, with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) posting gains while the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed a decline in its key index. During the first half of the fourth trading day of the week, the DSE’s benchmark index DSEX advanced by 47 points. The Shariah-based DSES index rose by 8 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index gained 11 points. Most listed companies saw price appreciation at the DSE, with 325 issues advancing, 29 declining and 38 remaining unchanged. Turnover at the DSE stood at around Tk 330 crore in the first half of trading. Meanwhile, the CSE experienced a fall in its overall index. The CASPI lost 46 points in the first half. Despite the index decline, the majority of companies registered gains at the CSE, as 51 issues advanced against 48 decliners, while 18 remained unchanged. Turnover at the CSE amounted to Tk 4 crore during the period.

Trading at the country’s two bourses witnessed a sharp downturn on Tuesday, the third working day of the week, with major indices posting significant losses in the first half of the session. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX shed 165 points by midday. The Shariah-based DSES declined 26 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index fell 71 points, reflecting broad-based selling pressure across sectors. Most listed companies faced price erosion. Of the traded issues, 347 advanced declined, compared to only 30 that registered gains, while 11 remained unchanged. Turnover at the DSE stood at around Tk 600 crore in the first half of trading, indicating active participation despite the steep fall in indices. A similar trend was observed at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), where the overall CASPI index dropped 309 points during the same period. Out of the traded securities at the CSE, 111 companies saw their share prices fall, while 50 posted gains and 12 remained unchanged. The port city bourse recorded a turnover of Tk 19 crore in the first half of the session.

Stocks posted a strong rebound in early trading on Monday, with key indices at both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) registering significant gains, recovering from the previous session’s steep fall. During the first half of the trading session, the DSE’s benchmark index, DSEX, advanced by 108 points. The Shariah-based DSES index rose by 18 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index gained 33 points, reflecting broad-based buying interest across sectors. Market breadth remained overwhelmingly positive at the DSE, as share prices of 372 companies advanced against 12 decliners, while 6 issues remained unchanged. The turnover at the DSE stood at around Tk 440 crore in the first half of the session, indicating renewed investor participation.The upbeat trend was also visible at the CSE. DSE sinks 138 points on broad sell-off; CSE also tumbles In early trading, the port city bourse’s benchmark CASPI index climbed 160 points. Of the traded issues at the CSE, 89 companies saw price gains, compared to 31 decliners, while 14 remained unchanged. The turnover at the CSE amounted to Tk 9 crore during the same period.  

Stocks witnessed a sharp downturn on Sunday as major indices of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) closed significantly lower amid widespread selling pressure. At the DSE, the benchmark DSEX plunged 138 points. The Shariah-based DSES lost 26 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index fell 52 points. Most listed companies ended in the red, with 353 issues declining against 30 gainers and six remaining unchanged. Weekly market wrap: Indices rally at DSE, CSE despite shrinking turnover The turnover also dropped sharply. The DSE recorded transactions worth Tk 775 crore, down from Tk 947 crore in the previous session. In the block market, shares of 23 companies worth Tk 24 crore were traded. Orion Infusion posted the highest block turnover at Tk 4.60 crore. Shinepukur Ceramics PLC topped the gainers’ chart on the DSE, advancing nearly 10 percent, while Bangladesh Welding Electrodes Limited languished at the bottom, shedding around 8 percent. The CSE also experienced a major slide, with its benchmark CASPI index plunging 245 points. Out of the traded issues, 138 declined, 35 advanced and 11 remained unchanged. Stocks advance at DSE, CSE in early trading The turnover at the port city bourse stood at Tk 12 crore, down from Tk 19 crore in the previous trading day. Prime Finance and Investment Limited led the gainers at the CSE with a 10 percent rise, while Apex Tannery Limited was the worst performer, losing 10 percent.

The country’s two main bourses closed the week on a positive note, with all major indices rising at both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), although overall turnover declined significantly. According to the DSE weekly review, the benchmark DSEX advanced by 134 points during the week, marking a 2.5 percent gain over the previous week and a 15 percent rise compared to the same period in 2025. The DSEX, which began the week at 5,465 points, closed at 5,600 points. The Shariah-based DSES index also rose by 21 points, up nearly 2 percent week-on-week. The blue-chip DS30 index climbed 71 points, posting a gain of around 3.5 percent over the previous week and standing 17 percent higher than the corresponding period last year. Despite the upward trend in indices, average daily turnover at the DSE dropped to Tk 724 crore, down from Tk 1,050 crore in the previous week, a decline of nearly 30 percent. Most listed companies posted price gains, with 274 issues advancing against 83 decliners, while 32 remained unchanged. Sector-wise analysis, however, showed price declines across most major sectors. The banking sector fell by 24 percent during the week, while non-bank financial institutions dropped by more than 35 percent. The insurance sector also witnessed notable corrections, with general insurance companies declining by 60 percent and life insurance firms by 40 percent. At the DSE, the highest turnover was recorded in shares of The City Bank, Olympic Industries, BRAC Bank, Robi Axiata, Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag Industries and Orion Infusion. In the block market, Olympic, Grameenphone, Orion Infusion and Summit Alliance Port dominated transactions. Notably, Z-category stocks — widely considered distressed and non-dividend paying companies — led the gainers’ chart at the DSE. Nine of the top ten gainers belonged to the Z category, while one was from B category, indicating investors’ preference for speculative issues despite the index rally. In contrast, seven of the top ten losers were A-category stocks, generally regarded as fundamentally strong and high dividend-paying companies. At the CSE, the overall CASPI index gained 248 points over the week. The blue-chip CSE30 and CSE50 indices rose by 287 points and 25 points respectively, while the Shariah index added 7 points. Out of the traded issues at the CSE, 150 advanced, 107 declined and 28 remained unchanged. Similar to the DSE, Z-category stocks dominated the top gainers’ list at the CSE, accounting for nine out of the top ten, with the remaining one from B category. Meanwhile, six of the top ten losers were A-category stocks. At the CSE, the week’s highest turnover was recorded in shares of Fine Foods Limited, Orion Infusion, City General Insurance Company, ML Dyeing, Lovello Ice-cream and Paramount Textile.

Trading at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed an upward trend on Thursday, the last working day of the week, with key indices posting notable gains in the first half of the session. At the DSE, the benchmark DSEX gained 36 points by midday. The Shariah-based DSES index advanced 8 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index rose 14 points. Most listed companies saw their share prices increase, as 270 issues advanced against 63 decliners, while 56 remained unchanged. Bangladesh's gross reserves touch $35.03 billion  The turnover at the DSE stood at nearly Tk 500 crore in the first half of trading. The upbeat trend was also reflected at the CSE, where the overall CASPI index climbed 100 points by midday. Of the traded issues, 90 advanced, 25 declined and 19 remained unchanged. The port city bourse recorded a turnover of Tk 7 crore during the same period.

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.