United News of Bangladesh

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.

Stock indices at both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) extended their gains on Wednesday, marking the second consecutive day of rise in the country’s capital market, despite a decline in overall turnover. At the DSE, the benchmark index DSEX advanced by 34 points. Among the other indices, the Shariah-based DSES rose by 4 points, while the blue-chip DS30 gained 16 points. Prices, however, fell for most listed companies at the DSE, as 191 issues closed lower against 134 gainers, while prices of 64 shares remained unchanged. The turnover eased on the fourth trading day of the week following Tuesday’s highest transaction of the year. Shares and units worth Tk 633 crore were traded on the DSE, down from Tk 693 crore in the previous session. In the block market, shares of 33 companies worth Tk 21 crore changed hands, with Trust Bank PLC accounting for the highest turnover of about Tk 4 crore. Pubali Bank PLC topped the DSE gainers’ chart with its price rising more than 7 percent, while FAS Finance and Investment Limited ended as the worst loser, shedding over 10 percent. The CSE also saw a positive close, with its broad-based index CASPI rising by 114 points. At the port city bourse, prices increased for most issues as 86 companies advanced against 78 decliners, while 23 issues closed unchanged. The total turnover at the CSE stood at Tk 8 crore, down from Tk 13 crore in the previous trading session. Silva Pharmaceuticals Limited emerged as the top gainer at the CSE, jumping nearly 10 percent, while Phoenix Finance 1st Mutual Fund closed at the bottom of the chart after losing more than 9 percent.

Trading at the country’s stock markets began on a positive note on the last working day of the week, with key indices of both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) posting gains. During the first half of the session, the DSE’s benchmark index rose by 16 points. The other two indices—the Shariah-based DSE Shariah Index (DSES) and the blue-chip DS30—also advanced by 3 points each. Share prices increased for most of the listed companies. Of the issues traded on the DSE, prices rose for 218 companies, fell for 85, and remained unchanged for 83. The total turnover on the DSE stood at Tk 230 crore in shares and units during the period. Stocks open mixed as DSE advances, CSE slips Meanwhile, at the CSE, the overall index CASPI gained 18 points in the first half of trading. Prices advanced for 46 companies, declined for 24, while 10 issues remained unchanged. The port city bourse recorded a turnover of Tk 1.5 crore in shares and units during the first half of the session.

Trading at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) crossed Tk 600 crore after nearly two months on Tuesday (January 20, 2026), with turnover reaching Tk 669 crore, the highest single-day volume in about three and a half months amid a continued rise in indices. The market opened on a positive note on the third trading day of the week, extending gains seen over the past few sessions. Improved sentiment lifted share trading throughout the day, pushing total turnover to Tk 669 crore, the first time in 2026 that daily transactions returned to the Tk 600 crore range. Previously, the DSE last saw turnover above Tk 600 crore on November 25, 2025, when transactions stood at Tk 636 crore. Following a prolonged downturn, daily turnover over the past two months had largely hovered between Tk 300 crore to Tk 400 crore. Tuesday’s figure was the highest since October 7, 2025. The benchmark DSEX index advanced 17 points, while the Shariah-based DSES rose 7 points and the blue-chip DS30 gained 5 points. Read more: Stocks open mixed as DSE advances, CSE slips Gainers outnumbered losers, with prices rising for 210 companies against declines in 109, while 69 issues remained unchanged. In the block market, shares worth Tk 32 crore from 21 companies were traded, led by Orion Infusion with transactions amounting to Tk 13 crore. Daffodil Computers PLC topped the DSE gainers’ list with a near 10 percent rise, while Apex Tannery Limited was the day’s worst performer, shedding 5 percent. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended higher, with its general index CASPI climbing 43 points. Read more: Stocks advance at DSE, CSE in early trading At the CSE, prices advanced for 102 companies, declined for 55, and remained unchanged for 25. The turnover, however, dipped to Tk 10 crore from Tk 12 crore in the previous session. Janata Insurance PLC surged nearly 10 percent to lead the gainers at the CSE, while EBL NRB Mutual Fund fell about 8 percent to close at the bottom of the board.

Bangladesh’s stock markets posted gains in the first half of trading on Wednesday, with key indices of both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) moving upward. On the fourth trading day of the week, the benchmark DSE index, DSEX, climbed 45 points. The Shariah-based DSES index rose by 5 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index advanced 17 points. Stocks advance in early trade at DSE, CSE Out of the traded issues at the DSE, prices of 246 companies increased, while 65 companies saw a decline and 70 remained unchanged. The turnover at the premier bourse crossed Tk 198 crore during the first half of the session. The CSE also witnessed a positive trend, with its overall index, CASPI, gaining 55 points. At the port city bourse, share prices of 44 companies rose against declines in 21 companies, while 10 issues remained unchanged. The trading volume at the CSE stood at over Tk 55 lakh in the first half of the day. DSEX index gains 28.4 points as 294 stocks advance in early trading