The stock markets in both Dhaka and Chattogram began trading on a positive note on Wednesday, but ultimately closed the day in decline, marking a downward trend in indices. The Dhaka Stock Exchange's (DSE) benchmark index, DSEX, fell by 2 points. Similarly, the Shariah-based DSES and blue-chip DS30 indices also ended in the red. Following a record-high turnover in the previous session, Wednesday's trading at the DSE was notably sluggish. The daily turnover, which had exceeded Tk 500 crore, dropped to Tk 390 crore. Stock market opens higher, continues upward momentum Among the 399 companies traded, 143 saw an increase in share prices, 209 declined and 47 remained unchanged. In the A-category stocks, 71 companies gained value, 120 declined, and 30 remained unchanged. In the B-category, 78 companies were traded, with 46 experiencing a drop in prices, 25 seeing an increase, and 7 remaining steady. Despite the decline in A and B-category stocks, junk stocks from the Z-category saw gains. Out of 100 traded shares in this category, 47 rose in value, 43 fell, and 10 remained unchanged. The mutual fund segment showed a predominantly positive trend, with 25 funds gaining value, 2 experiencing a decline, and 10 remaining unchanged. Stock market records year’s highest turnover In the block market, 19 companies traded 14 lakh shares worth Tk 5.50 crore. Beximco Pharmaceuticals led the segment with the highest transaction, selling 2 lakh shares worth Tk 15 crore. The downturn also impacted small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) stocks. The DS SME Index (DSMEX) fell by 12 points, with 18 traded companies in this sector. Of these, 8 saw a decline, 6 gained value, and 4 remained unchanged. Turnover in the SME sector more than halved in a day, dropping from Tk 8 crore in the previous session to Tk 4 crore on Wednesday. Tasarifa Industries Limited emerged as the top gainer on the DSE with a 9.69% price increase, while Far East Finance and Investment Limited fell the most, declining by 5.88%. The Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) experienced a more significant decline compared to Dhaka. The overall index at the CSE fell by 37 points. Among the 209 traded companies, 111 saw a decrease in share prices, 63 recorded gains, and 35 remained unchanged. Dhaka stock market opens higher, Chattogram sees decline Unlike Dhaka, the turnover at the CSE increased, rising from Tk 4.40 crore in the previous session to Tk 7.50 crore. Apollo Ispat Limited led the gainers at the CSE with a 10% price surge, while Hami Industries PLC recorded the steepest fall, losing 9.78% in value.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) faced significant downturns on the first trading day of the week, with the CSE recording higher transaction volumes while the DSE experienced a decline in trading activity. From the first hour of trading on Sunday, indices at both markets began to plummet, ending the day with substantial losses. The DSE’s key index, DSEX, dropped by 34 points, whiles the CSE’s overall index declined by 65 points. DSE sees sharp fall as most stocks suffer price drops At the DSE, of the 403 traded companies, share prices fell for 261, rose for 75, and remained unchanged for 67. Similarly, in the CSE, of the 188 companies traded, 103 saw price drops, 55 experienced gains, and 30 remained unchanged. Trading volume at the DSE fell by Tk 38 crore compared to the previous session, with a total transaction value of Tk 318 crore, down from Tk 356 crore. In contrast, trading at the CSE increased by Tk 7 crore, reaching Tk 12.88 crore, up from Tk 5.67 crore in the prior session. Among the traded sectors at the DSE: ·         A-category stocks: Of 224 companies, 147 saw declines, 36 recorded gains, and 41 remained unchanged. ·         B-category stocks: Prices dropped for 59 companies, rose for 23, and stayed unchanged for 23. ·         Z-category stocks: 52 companies saw declines, while prices increased for 15, with 18 remaining unchanged. ·         The mutual fund segment also faced challenges, with 21 funds declining in value, three increasing, and 13 staying static. ·         In block market transactions, 15 companies traded 32,26,394 shares worth Tk 18.32 crore. Sectors That Struggled Notably, no price increases were recorded in the cement, ceramics, telecommunications, and jute sectors. In the banking sector, prices of 16 companies fell, while 17 remained unchanged. In the pharmaceutical sector, prices dropped by 1.25%, with seven companies seeing gains and 27 experiencing declines. Sectors That Held Up The technology, real estate, textile, and tourism sectors showed some resilience. In the IT sector, both listed companies recorded gains. Dividend Announcements Six companies at the DSE have distributed dividends for the third quarter of the previous year. Additionally, National Tea Company Limited announced a dividend for its investors. Top Performers and Laggards Shahjibazar Power Company Limited topped the gainers’ list, with its share price rising by 6.28% in a single day. On the other hand, Keya Cosmetics faced the steepest decline, with its share price falling by 10%. The company attributed the drop to insufficient capital, which led to a temporary shutdown of its factory, although other operations remain active. Continued Slump in SME Sector The SME sector at the DSE also continued its downward trend, with the index dropping by 17 points in a single day. Among the 18 listed companies in this segment, 13 recorded declines, four saw gains, and one remained unchanged. DSE sees sharp fall as most stocks suffer price drops This market performance reflects the ongoing challenges facing the stock market as investors remain cautious amidst economic uncertainty.