United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s stock market saw a sharp decline in March 2026, with the benchmark DSEX index falling 7.53% to 5,178.31, down from 5,600.27 in February. The drop, equivalent to about 422 points, came amid a broad global sell-off, as all major equity indices tracked in the DSE Monthly Market Review recorded monthly losses. While Bangladesh was among the harder-hit markets, steeper declines were observed in Indonesia (-14.42%), Pakistan (-11.50%), and India (-11.49%). March proved a punishing month for global equities, with no market spared. In the Asia-Pacific region, Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite plunged 14.42% to 7,048.22 from 8,235.49 in February. Weekly Analysis: DSE, CSE edge higher, yet most stocks remain in the red Pakistan’s KSE 100 dropped 11.50% to 148,743.31, while India’s S&P BSE SENSEX fell 11.49% to 71,947.55. Taiwan’s weighted index declined 8.18% to 32,518.16, Thailand’s SET lost 5.24%, and Malaysia’s KLSE Composite slipped 1.53%. Among major Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 9.56% to 53,221.50, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 6.92% to 24,788.14, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged down 2.19% to 4,885.45—the smallest loss in the region. In Europe, Germany’s DAX declined 10.30% to 22,680.04, while the UK’s FTSE 100 fell 6.73% to 10,176.45. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 5.38% to 46,341.51, reflecting a broad risk-off sentiment globally. Despite widespread annual gains across most markets, Bangladesh and India stood out as the only Asia-Pacific economies posting year-on-year declines. The DSEX fell 0.78% compared to March 2025, while India’s SENSEX dropped a steeper 7.06%. In contrast, Taiwan’s index surged 57.12% year-on-year, Japan’s Nikkei rose 49.42%, Thailand’s SET gained 25.05%, and Pakistan’s KSE 100 advanced 26.26% despite its monthly fall. Singapore recorded a 22.98% annual gain, Malaysia 11.67%, and Indonesia 8.26%. In developed markets, the US Dow Jones rose 10.33% and the UK’s FTSE 100 gained 18.57%. Amid equity market weakness, Bangladesh recorded the most significant macroeconomic shift in the region, a 16.10% year-on-year decline in inflation, the sharpest among all markets tracked. This contrasts with rising inflation elsewhere: India (3.20%), Pakistan (7.00%), Indonesia (4.80%), and the United States (2.40%). Only Thailand reported a marginal decline of 0.90%. The sharp disinflation may provide some relief to policymakers and investors despite ongoing market pressure. Bangladesh’s GDP growth at current market prices stood at 11%, the second highest in the review after Taiwan’s 12.70% This outpaced India (7.80%), Singapore (6.90%), and Indonesia (5.40%). Advanced economies lagged significantly, with the US growing at 2%, the UK at 1 percent, and Germany and Japan at just 0.40%. However, Bangladesh’s 10-year government bond yield remained elevated at 10.32% among the highest in the region, behind only Pakistan’s 12.73%. Higher yields tend to divert funds from equities to fixed-income instruments, which may be weighing on the stock market. India’s bond yield stood at 7.00%, Indonesia’s at 6.89%, while Taiwan and Singapore posted much lower yields at 1.54% and 2.89% respectively. Capital market experts said the March data highlights a persistent disconnect between Bangladesh’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals and weak equity market performance. Despite robust GDP growth and sharply declining inflation typically supportive of equities, the DSEX has posted a year-on-year decline, pointing to structural challenges such as high bond yields, shallow market depth, and limited institutional participation. Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) Chairman Abu Ahmed said a sustained recovery in the DSEX will depend on reducing borrowing costs, maintaining the disinflation trend, and strengthening investor confidence. He added that while March was difficult for investors, the easing inflation trend offers a positive signal that could help stabilise the market in the coming months.

Bangladesh stock market began the week on a mixed note on Sunday, with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) sliding in early trade while the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) posted gains. During the first half of the session, the benchmark DSEX index of the DSE shed 10 points. The Shariah-based DSES index fell by 3 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index dropped 10 points. Most listed companies on the DSE saw their share prices decline, as 176 issues lost value against 141 gainers, while prices of 67 issues remained unchanged. The turnover on the premier bourse crossed Tk 250 crore in the first half of the day. In contrast, the CSE witnessed a positive trend, with its overall index CASPI rising by 25 points. At the port city bourse, prices of 47 companies advanced, while 21 issues declined and 12 remained unchanged. The trading volume at the CSE exceeded Tk 2 crore during the same period.

Although trading began positively on Tuesday, both the Dhaka and Chattogram stock markets ended the day with most company shares losing value. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark index DSEX fell by 46 points. The Shariah-based DSES declined by 12 points, while the blue-chip index DS30 dropped by 16 points. Out of the 398 companies traded on the DSE, prices fell for most. Only 54 companies saw an increase in share price, while 309 declined and 35 remained unchanged. Share prices declined across all three categories — A, B, and Z. In the A category, which comprises fundamentally strong companies with regular dividend history, 32 out of 220 companies saw price appreciation, while 178 experienced a fall and 10 remained unchanged. Dhaka, Chattogram share markets open with gains in key indices Among the 36 mutual funds traded, prices fell for the majority. Only 2 mutual funds registered gains, 32 declined, and 2 remained unchanged. In the DSE block market, shares of 22 companies were traded for a total value of Tk 9.14 crore. SEML Lecture Equity Management Fund topped the block trades with sales worth Tk 2.44 crore. Alongside the index drop, the daily turnover also declined in the Dhaka market. Total turnover stood at Tk 343 crore, down from Tk 364 crore in the previous session. First Bangladesh Fixed Income Fund was the top gainer on the DSE with an 8.11 percent price increase. On the other hand, Midas Financing suffered the biggest loss, with a price drop of over 16 percent. Fall in Chattogram as Well The Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) also experienced a decline, mirroring the trend in Dhaka. The overall index at the CSE dropped by 36 points during the day's trading. Out of 201 companies traded, 55 gained in price, 113 fell, and 33 remained unchanged. Total turnover at the CSE stood at Tk 7.67 crore, slightly up from the previous session’s Tk 7.29 crore. ICB Second Mutual Fund topped the gainers’ list on the CSE with a 10 percent rise in price. Meanwhile, Midas Financing also recorded the highest loss at the CSE, with its share price falling by over 13 percent, similar to its performance on the DSE.

Although the week began with a downturn, trading on the country’s stock markets ended on a positive note on Sunday, with indices rising and share prices increasing for the majority of listed companies in both Dhaka and Chattogram. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX index increased by 19 points, while the main index posted gains, the other two indices in Dhaka did not perform as strongly. The Shariah-based DSES index rose by just 1 point and the DS30 index, which tracks blue-chip companies, fell by 4 points. Out of the 395 companies that participated in trading at the DSE, the share prices of 189 companies increased, while 160 declined and 46 remained unchanged. Across all three categories — A, B and Z — share prices were mostly on the rise. Among the 216 companies listed under the A category, which includes firms with consistent dividend payouts, 122 posted gains. Stock market sheds Tk 17,000cr in April as DSEX down by 302 points The share prices of 80 A-category firms declined, and 14 remained unchanged. Mutual funds also saw a positive trend, with 30 out of 36 funds gaining in value. Only 3 saw price declines, while the remaining 3 stayed the same. In the DSE block market, 21 companies traded shares worth Tk 6.83 crore. Beacon Pharmaceuticals accounted for the highest transaction, selling shares worth Tk 2.24 crore. Despite the favourable movement in indices and share prices, overall turnover at the DSE remained stagnant. Total transactions stood at Tk 364 crore, slightly lower than the previous session’s Tk 366 crore. Northern Islami Insurance emerged as the top gainer on the DSE with a 10% rise in share price. On the other hand, Bay Leasing and Investment Ltd saw the biggest drop, losing over 3.5%. Chattogram Market Also Sees Gains Like Dhaka, the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended the day with an upward trend. The CSE’s overall index rose by 19 points during the day’s trading. Out of 182 companies that traded on the CSE, 91 advanced, 71 declined, and 20 remained unchanged. DSE, 2 other South Asian stock markets unite to drive regional growth Total turnover at the CSE amounted to Tk 7.29 crore — a sharp decline from the previous session’s figure of over Tk 21 crore. Phoenix Insurance Company Ltd topped the gainers’ list at the CSE with a price surge of 9.87%. Meanwhile, Green Delta Insurance PLC ended at the bottom, shedding 10% in value.

Bangladesh's stock market saw a resurgence this week as investor confidence was buoyed by robust corporate earnings and positive regulatory interventions aimed at stabilising the market.  The benchmark index managed to recover from a prolonged bearish phase, spurred by improved earnings, dividend announcements, and supportive discussions around liquidity measures. The market began the week in a cautious mode, with prevailing bearish sentiment driving the benchmark index below the key 5,000-point mark.  However, as earnings and dividend declarations surpassed investor expectations, and with ongoing discussions around liquidity support from the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) alongside potential reductions in capital gains tax, confidence quickly rebounded. The DSEX, the primary index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, rose by 84.81 points or 1.7%, settling at 5,199 points. Investor activity grew by 23%, with turnover reaching Tk416.7 crore, compared to Tk338.7 crore in the previous week. Banking, pharmaceuticals, and textiles emerged as the top sectors, representing 19.2%, 16.6%, and 10.8% of market activity, respectively. Notably, the Mutual Fund sector registered the highest gains with a 10.1% rise, while the banking sector was the only one to post minor losses at 0.5%. Stock market slumps as DSEX hits 3-month low, most companies see price drops In parallel, the DS30 index, representing 30 major companies, climbed 47 points to close at 1,926. Meanwhile, the DSES index, which tracks Shariah-compliant stocks, saw a slight decline of 0.89 points, ending at 1,145. Market turnover, a critical indicator of investor participation, rose to Tk2,883 crore over the week, a significant increase from the Tk1,693 crore recorded the previous week.  The daily turnover average reached Tk416 crore, a 23% rise from last week’s average of Tk338 crore. Recent regulatory efforts, including the formation of an investigative panel to analyse the causes behind the recent market downturn, were instrumental in helping to restore investor trust. Additionally, a meeting between Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, the Finance and Commerce Adviser, and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has brought assurances of short-, medium-, and long-term measures to address market volatility. The market rebound was largely driven by the recovery of fundamentally strong stocks, which had reached attractive valuations following recent corrections. Regulatory steps are anticipated to further stabilise the market, as reflected in the gains of a significant portion of listed companies.

Robi Axiata Limited, the second largest mobile phone operator in Bangladesh, has been given greenlight for stock market launch with the biggest initial public offerings (IPO) in the country’s history.