United News of Bangladesh

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) started the new week with another sharp fall, after ending the previous session 122 points lower, as all key indices slipped in early trading on Sunday (November 16). In the first half of the session, the benchmark DSEX dropped 45 points, while the Shariah index (DSES) shed 11 points. The blue-chip index DS30 also fell by 18 points. The turnover at the DSE stood at Tk 130 crore in the first two hours of trading. Stocks sink on week’s last trading day; DSEX plunges 122 points Most issues were in the red, with 210 companies declining against 119 gaining, while prices of 42 issues remained unchanged. The downtrend was mirrored on the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) as well, where the overall index fell by 97 points in early trading. Turnover crossed Tk 2 crore in the first half of the session. At the CSE, 61 issues saw price declines, 15 advanced, and seven remained unchanged. Read more: Trading of five Sharia banks halted at Bangladesh’s stock market

The country’s capital markets witnessed a strong start on Tuesday as both Dhaka and Chattogram bourses opened higher, with major indices and most company shares edging up in the first hour of trading. On the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark index DSEX gained 46 points in the opening hour of trade, while the Shariah-based index DSES advanced 11 points and the blue-chip DS-30 rose by 9 points. Out of 303 issues traded during the early session, the prices of 219 advanced, 24 declined and 60 remained unchanged. Stocks fail to recover despite slight gains in Dhaka, Chattogram The turnover at the DSE crossed Tk 170 crore in the first hour. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also saw a positive momentum, with its broad index climbing 57 points. Of the 48 companies traded, 37 gained, 8 declined and 3 remained unchanged, generating a turnover of around Tk 1.20 crore.

The country’s stock markets started the week with gains on Sunday, as indices edged up and most companies saw a rise in share prices on both the Dhaka and Chattogram bourses.  During the first hour of trading, the DSEX, the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), gained 21 points. The Shariah-based DSES index rose by 5 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index advanced by 7 points. At the beginning of the session, prices increased for the majority of traded securities. Out of the total issues traded, 233 advanced, 95 declined, and 57 remained unchanged.  The turnover on the DSE crossed Tk 160 crore in the first hour of trading.  Major rally in Dhaka, Chattogram stock markets Meanwhile, at the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE), the overall index increased by 56 points.  Of the 93 companies that participated in trading during the opening hour in Chattogram, 54 advanced, 20 declined, and 19 remained unchanged.  The turnover at the CSE exceeded Tk 2.60 crore in the early trading session.

The stock market remained in distress on the fifth and final trading day of the week, extending the downward trend witnessed over the past several days. All indices in both the Dhaka and Chattogram bourses recorded losses, with the majority of listed companies seeing a decline in share prices.  Stocks slide sharply in early trading at DSE, CSE On the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark index DSEX fell by 62 points. The Shariah-based DSES dropped by 16 points, while the blue-chip index DS30 shed 15 points. Out of 398 traded companies, share prices increased for only 63, whereas 295 saw a decline, and 40 remained unchanged. The slump affected companies across all categories — A, B, and Z. In particular, category ‘A’, which includes fundamentally strong companies with regular dividends, saw notable losses. Among 219 companies in this category, only 29 gained in value, while 168 declined and 22 remained unchanged. In DSE’s block market, shares of 24 companies worth Tk 9.8 crore were traded. Fine Foods topped the list with transactions worth Tk 5 crore. The DSE recorded a total turnover of Tk 264 crore, slightly down from Tk 272 crore the previous day. Heidelberg Materials Bangladesh led the gainers on the DSE, with its share price rising by 8.73 per cent, while NRB Bank faced the steepest decline, plunging by 9.80 per cent. Decline Continues in Chattogram A similar trend was observed in the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE), where the overall index dropped by 138 points. Of the 194 companies that traded on the CSE, 38 saw gains, 138 experienced losses and 18 remained unchanged. Bangladesh's stock market opens on upbeat note  The CSE recorded a turnover of Tk 18 crore, up from Tk 10 crore the previous day. Quasem Industries Limited topped the CSE gainers’ list with a 10 per cent price increase, while Aamra Networks Limited recorded the biggest loss, dropping by over 9.84 per cent.    

The stock markets in Dhaka and Chattogram witnessed a significant decline in indices on Saturday, the second trading day of the week, with most listed companies seeing a drop in share prices. While turnover in Chattogram rose slightly, it declined in Dhaka. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark index DSEX fell by 10 points. The other two indices also declined—Shariah-based DSES by 4 points and the blue-chip DS30 index by 6 points. Out of the 396 companies that participated in trading, the share prices of a majority fell. Against 100 gainers, 215 companies saw a decline in share prices, while prices of 81 companies remained unchanged. Across all three categories—A, B, and Z—most listed companies experienced price drops. Among the 217 A-category companies known for consistent dividend payouts, 48 gained, 128 declined and 41 remained unchanged. DSE to operate on two Saturdays ahead of Eid vacation Prices also fell across 36 mutual funds. While 10 funds posted gains, an equal number saw price decreases, and the prices of 16 remained unchanged. In the DSE block market, shares worth Tk 9 crore of 18 companies were traded. Fine Foods accounted for the highest transaction, with shares worth Tk 9 crore. The total turnover at the DSE stood at Tk 235 crore for the day, down from Tk 278 crore in the previous session. Baraka Patenga Power was the top gainer on the DSE, with a 9.66 per cent rise in share price. On the other hand, Information Services Network lost over 7.52 per cent, becoming the worst performer of the day. Chattogram Also Declines Similar to Dhaka, the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) also recorded a fall in indices. The overall index at the CSE dropped by 26 points. Trading in DSE, CSE begins with continued fall in indices Of the 184 companies that participated in trading at the CSE, share prices rose for 55, declined for 95, and remained unchanged for 34. The total turnover at the CSE was Tk 8.68 crore, an increase from the previous session’s Tk 4.97 crore. ICB Sonali Bank First Mutual Fund topped the gainers’ list at the CSE with a 10 per cent price increase, while SK Trims & Industries dropped over 9 per cent, marking the steepest decline.  

Trading at the stock markets in Dhaka and Chattogram began with a decline on the third working day of the week on Monday, as share prices of most listed companies fell. During the first half of the session, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) dropped by 16 points. Of the other two indices, the Shariah-based DSES was down by 2 points. The DS30 index, which tracks blue-chip companies, also declined by 9 points. Out of the companies that participated in trading, share prices rose for 109, declined for 203, and remained unchanged for 77. The turnover on the DSE crossed Tk 130 crore during the first half of trading. A similar trend was observed at the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE), where the overall index fell by 23 points. Stocks close the week on downtrend Of the 108 companies that took part in trading at the CSE, 29 saw gains, 63 experienced losses, while prices of 16 companies remained unchanged. Shares and units worth over Tk 3 crore were traded at the CSE during the first half of the session.    

The capital market closed the week with a sharp decline across all indices and a steep fall in trading activity, led by a significant drop in banking sector share prices. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX index dropped by 121 points over the week. Starting at 4,902 points, the index closed at 4,781 — a fall of 2.47 percent compared to the previous week, marking the lowest level in the past five years. The other two indices in Dhaka also reflected similar distress. The Shariah-based DSES index fell by 35 points, registering a 3.29 percent weekly loss, the highest among all indices. Blue-chip shares performed poorly as well. The DS30 index, comprising selected large-cap stocks, declined by 2.76 percent. Overall, the cumulative fall in indices throughout the week exceeded 50 percent. Out of 322 listed companies traded in Dhaka during the week, the share prices of 322 companies declined, while only 50 gained and 24 remained unchanged. Investor confidence continued to erode amid the persistent downturn, directly impacting overall turnover. Weekly turnover at the DSE plunged by 32.78 percent. Stocks close the week on downtrend The average daily turnover dropped from Tk 480 crore to Tk 324 crore. The total number of shares traded also fell by 19.52 percent. Sector-wise Downturn The banking sector — traditionally a stronghold of investor trust — experienced a severe collapse. Share prices of 36 listed banks dropped by 47.82 percent overall during the week. The declining volume of traded shares in the banking sector further highlighted investors’ lack of confidence. Turnover in the sector was down by 31.24 percent. Although share prices of 10 banks rose, prices fell for 19 banks while 7 remained unchanged. Financial institutions also failed to perform. Among 23 listed non-bank financial institutions, share prices fell by 26.55 percent, while turnover declined by 19.53 percent. The most severe blow came in the real estate sector. Share prices in this category declined by more than 60 percent, with a 53 percent drop in turnover. Throughout the week, only general insurance and mutual fund shares registered price gains. All other sectors saw considerable losses. Sharp Fall in Chattogram The Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) mirrored the dismal performance of Dhaka. The overall index at the CSE fell by 226 points. Out of 300 companies traded at the CSE, 203 experienced a decline in share prices. In contrast, 74 gained while 23 remained unchanged. Stock Market: Major decline in Dhaka and Chattogram; most companies lose value Like Dhaka, insurance and mutual fund shares held relatively stronger positions in Chattogram. City General Insurance topped the turnover chart at the CSE for the week. On the other end of the spectrum, Shinepukur Ceramics Limited emerged as the biggest loser, shedding 22 percent of its value.  

Bangladesh’s stock markets began the first trading day of the week with a decline, as all major indices in both Dhaka and Chattogram opened lower on Monday. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark index DSEX dropped by 2 points. The Shariah-based DSES index fell by 1 point, while the blue-chip index DS30 declined by 7 points. During the first half of the session in Dhaka, share prices of 169 companies increased, 166 declined and 55 remained unchanged. Overall, trading volume on the DSE surpassed Tk 170 crore in the first two hours, reflecting moderate investor activity. Share markets rebound sharply in both Dhaka, Chattogram Similarly, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also witnessed a downward trend, with the overall index falling by 6 points. Out of 98 companies that participated in trading on the CSE, prices rose for 47, fell for 33, and remained unchanged for 18. In the first half of trading, the CSE recorded share and unit transactions worth over Tk 4 crore.  

The month of April brought no respite for investors in Bangladesh’s capital market. Following the Eid holidays, trading resumed with continued decline, dragging the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) down by 302 points and wiping out Tk 17,000 crore in market capitalisation. According to a review of the month’s trading on the DSE, the benchmark DSEX index, which began April at 5,219 points, ended at 4,917 points. Out of 18 trading sessions in the month, the market witnessed losses on 15 days. The consistent fall discouraged fresh investments, with many investors opting to pull their funds out. Market Wrap: Dhaka stocks gain, Ctg slips on week’s final trading day As a result, the market lost around Tk 17,000 crore in capital. Not just the key index, the Shariah-compliant index DSES also suffered, falling by 74 points over the month. Similarly, blue-chip shares were not spared either, as the DS30 index—comprising selected well-performing companies—dropped by 92 points. Data from Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) revealed that 11,429 investors emptied their beneficiary owner (BO) accounts during the month. The number of BO accounts with zero balance has now surpassed 3.8 lakh, while the total number of active accounts dropped by over 10,000. Investors expressed grave concerns over the prolonged downturn. Many believe that the erosion of confidence is making it increasingly difficult for the market to stabilise. Those still holding onto hope are being let down day by day. Tarek Hossain, who has been trading shares for nearly five years, said, “The commission used to say that investing in good companies would not lead to losses. That only those investing in junk shares were getting hurt. But in recent months, the prices of many good stocks have dropped. How can a Tk 100 share fall to Tk 30–40? The commission has failed to answer that.” Another investor, Monsur Ali, noted, “The biggest damage has come from margin loans. Those who bought shares with margin loans were forced into selling their good stocks due to forced sales. This has adversely impacted the overall market.” A member of the capital market reform taskforce, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Margin loans have become a thorn in the market’s side. There had been no strong regulations regarding loan issuance or use. Recently, the taskforce submitted new proposals to the commission. It recommended setting a maximum margin loan limit of Tk 10 crore and a minimum of Tk 10 lakh, and not allowing margin loans without active market investments.” The taskforce has also advised that margin loan funds should not be used for locked-in shares, sponsor shares, placement shares, unlisted firms, bonds, debentures, or unlisted mutual funds. Abu Ahmed, Chairman of the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB), said, “We need to bring large multinational companies into the market. If we can list such firms, investor confidence will return.” But, multiple sources within the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) confirmed that no major initial public offering (IPO) is expected this year. This dims hopes of a near-term turnaround for the market. To add to the woes, insiders say recent internal conflicts within the BSEC and the dismissal of 21 officials have also negatively impacted investor sentiment.  

After a week of persistent decline, the new trading week began on a similarly grim note for Bangladesh’s stock markets. On Monday, the second trading day of the week, both the Dhaka and Chattogram stock exchanges witnessed significant losses, extending the ongoing downward trend. DSE faced decline throughout week in all indices, CSE no exception The benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the DSEX, dropped by 29 points, while other two indices followed suit — the Shariah-based DSES shed 8 points and the blue-chip DS30 index lost 9 points. In addition to the falling indices, overall turnover at the DSE also declined. At the beginning of this week, the total transaction value fell to around Tk 350 crore. Monday’s total turnover at the DSE stood at Tk 359 crore. Alongside the index and turnover drops, share prices of most listed companies also fell. Of the 397 companies that participated in trading, prices rose for 103, while 234 saw declines. Share prices remained unchanged for 60 companies. Looking at category-wise performance, share prices in the A, B and Z categories also reflected the downtrend. Notably, within the A category, out of 219 companies, 49 saw gains while 141 experienced price drops. Prices remained unchanged for 29 companies. DSE, 2 other South Asian stock markets unite to drive regional growth Among the 36 listed mutual funds, most registered a fall in unit prices. While unit prices rose for 4 funds, 22 witnessed price declines, and 10 remained unchanged. In the DSE’s block market, 27 companies collectively traded shares worth Tk 18.88 crore. Of these, Midland Bank led with share transactions worth Tk 4.58 crore. Shahjibazar Power Company Limited topped the DSE gainers’ list, posting a 9.87% increase in share price. In contrast, Beach Hatchery suffered the sharpest fall, losing 9.98%. Chattogram Sees Similar Slump Mirroring the downturn in Dhaka, the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) also recorded a steep fall. The CSE’s overall index dropped by 62 points at the end of Monday’s trading session. Other key indices, including the benchmark CSE-50 and the Shariah-compliant CSI, each declined by 6 points. Among the 198 companies that traded on the CSE, prices fell for 114, rose for 47, and remained unchanged for 37 companies. Shahjibazar Power Company Limited also led the trading volume in Chattogram. Meanwhile, the ICB AMCL Sonali Bank Limited First Mutual Fund hit the bottom, losing 10% in share value.