The Dhaka stock market ended the week with a decline in the index for all five trading days. On Thursday, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the DSEX, fell by 8 points, closing at 5,133 points. The blue-chip DS-30 index decreased by 4 points, while the Shariah-based DSES index dropped by 6 points. Compared to the previous day, trading volume was reduced by Tk 43 crore. A total of 1,29,000 shares, worth Tk 363 crore, changed hands through 14.83 million transactions. Along with the index decline, the share prices of most companies also fell. But 141 companies saw price increases, while 196 experienced price drops, and the share prices of 62 companies remained unchanged. Among the companies in DSE's A-category, out of 220, 88 saw price increases, 96 saw price declines, and 36 remained unchanged. In the B-category, 88 companies recorded price increases for 24 companies, while 53 saw price drops, and 11 stayed constant. In the Z-category, 86 companies had 26 with rising prices, 46 with falling prices, and 14 that remained unchanged. Most mutual funds also saw a drop in their share prices. Out of 37 mutual funds, 7 experienced price increases, 12 had decreases, and 18 remained the same. On Thursday, the DSE moved C & A Textile Company from the B-category to the Z-category. A directive was issued to brokerage houses and merchant banks to refrain from providing any loans for purchasing shares of this company. In another development, IFAD Autos PLC paid its dividend to investors for the July quarter of last year. This marked the lowest dividend payout by IFAD in the last decade, offering just 1% per share. The downward trend continued in the Chittagong stock market as well. The Chittagong Stock Exchange's (CSE) CSE-50 index fell by 3.43 points, and the CSE-30 index dropped by 55.31 points, ending at 1,096.35 and 11,759.50 points, respectively. Besides, the CSI index dropped by 5.14 points, closing at 934.59 points. Alongside the decline, trading volume also decreased on the CSE. Continuous decline in stock indices for four days Compared to the previous day, turnover dropped by Tk 4.68 crore as the total turnover for the day was Tk 4.72 crore, down from Tk 9.40 crore in the previous trading session. Out of the 178 companies and mutual funds listed on the CSE, 57 experienced price increases, 96 saw declines, and 25 remained unchanged. Stock market sees early gains on week's final trading day

The majority of companies witnessed a rise in share prices during the first hour of trading on the week’s final business day. Alongside the price increases, the benchmark indices also saw a positive movement. On Thursday, trading at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) began with 196 companies registering gains, while 78 saw declines, and 79 remained unchanged in price. The DSEX, DSE's benchmark index, increased by 7 points, and the Shariah-based DSES index rose by 1 point. However, the DS30 index, which tracks blue-chip stocks, dropped by 2 points. During the initial hour, a total of 3,32,089 shares changed hands through 3.85 lakh transactions, amounting to Tk 89 crore in turnover. In an additional development, the DSE downgraded C&A Textiles to the Z category from the B category at the start of the day. Read: DSE ends Sunday’s trading with a downtrend; prices of 282 companies go down Merchant banks and brokerage houses have been instructed not to provide loans for purchasing shares of this company. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also observed gains in its indices during the early hours. The CSCX index rose by 8 points, with 33 companies recording price increases, 29 experiencing declines, and 11 remaining stable. The early market trends indicate a mix of optimism and caution as investors navigate the trading landscape.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) witnessed its indices fall for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday despite an increase in transactions. At the close of trading, the DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, dropped by 8 points. The blue-chip index DS30 fell by 6 points, while the Shariah-based DSES index declined by 1 point. Out of the traded companies, share prices increased for 145 companies, decreased for 182 and remained unchanged for 69. Rise in Turnover Despite the drop in indices, turnover increased by Tk 55 crore compared to the previous day. A total of 1.43 lakh shares changed hands 1.69 crore times, resulting in a total turnover of Tk 406 crore. Stock market opens on a positive note, majority companies see gains Performance by Categories In the A-category, comprising 217 companies, the prices of 54 shares rose, 127 fell, and 36 remained unchanged. In the B-category, out of 89 companies, 41 witnessed price increases, 35 recorded declines, and 13 remained stable. In the Z-category, involving 85 companies, 47 saw price hikes, 19 recorded falls, and 19 remained unchanged. Dividend Declarations Two DSE-listed companies announced dividend distributions to investors. GPH Ispat and JMI Syringes & Medical Devices declared 10% dividends each for their investments in 2024. Downgrades to Z Category The DSE has downgraded three companies—Sonali Life Insurance, Union Bank, and Sea Pearl Beach Resort—from the A-category to the Z-category. Additionally, brokerage houses and merchant banks have been directed not to extend margin loan facilities for purchasing shares of these Z-category companies. Stocks open strong but close lower on Dhaka bourse Chattogram Stock Exchange Also Affected The bearish trend was mirrored at the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE), where the CSCX index fell by 5 points. Of the 193 companies traded, 85 recorded price increases, 81 saw declines, and 27 remained unchanged. Market Sentiment The persistent decline in indices has raised concerns among investors, despite the uptick in transaction volumes. Market analysts suggest that the downgrades and cautionary measures imposed by the exchanges may have contributed to the cautious sentiment. Investors are urged to monitor developments closely and exercise prudence in investment decisions.

Monday’s trading session closed with a decline in key indices on both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE), despite an increase in overall market turnover. The day began with a downward trend in the indices, which briefly saw a slight recovery during the first hour of trading before declining again by the close. The DSEX, the DSE’s benchmark index, dropped by 4 points.  The blue-chip index, DS30, fell by 0.94 points, while the Shariah-compliant DSES index declined by 0.61 points. Over the last two days, the DSEX has lost a total of 42 points. Stock market starts week with decline in early trading Trading Volume Increases Amid Index Drop Despite the index declines, market turnover saw a modest rise.  On the day, shares and bonds worth Tk 397 crore were traded, an increase of Tk 26 crore compared to the previous session. Among the traded securities, most companies experienced a price drop.  The prices of 247 companies decreased, while 91 companies saw gains, and 62 remained unchanged. CSE Mirrors DSE’s Performance A similar scenario unfolded on the Chattogram Stock Exchange.  The CASPI, CSE’s benchmark index, dropped by 38 points. Out of 198 companies traded on the CSE, 118 saw their prices decline, 50 registered gains, and 30 remained unchanged.  DSE ends Sunday’s trading with a downtrend; prices of 282 companies go down The total value of shares and bonds traded on the CSE stood at Tk 54.03 crore. Market analysts attributed the decline in indices to profit-taking activities by investors and a cautious approach amid ongoing market uncertainties.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) began the week with a downtrend as all three major indices registered losses in the first hour of trading. The benchmark DSEX index dropped by 6 points, while the DS30, representing blue-chip stocks, declined by 2 points. The Shariah-based DSES index also edged lower, losing 0.13 points. During the initial hour, the market turnover stood at approximately Tk 80 crore. Out of the traded shares, prices of 154 stocks decreased, 122 advanced, and 80 remained unchanged. Shares from the automobile, paper mills, fabrics, and engineering sectors performed well, maintaining a stronger position. But the banking sector showed limited activity, with only three banks making it to the top 20 performing stocks. In the broader picture, the DSE's benchmark index has lost 38 points over the past two days, bringing the DSEX to 5,155 points. Read: DSEx and DS30 indexes slide while DSES up by 4.16 points in 1st hour The downward trend extended to the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) as well. In the first hour of trading, the CSE's major index also showed a decline. Prices fell for 41 stocks, increased for 27, while the turnover amounted to Tk 47 crore in shares and bonds. This lacklustre performance at the start of the week indicates cautious investor sentiment as both bourses continue to face headwinds.

The capital market was neglected, and even stakeholders failed to hold a single meeting for past 15 years to solve the problems and make policies for turning it sustainable as a source of investment, said Mominul Islam, chairman of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). He was speaking at a press conference on ‘Present Situation of Stock Market and Way Forward’ at Dhaka Club on Thursday. DSEX index down by 5.77 points, prices of 214 stocks drop  He said, “The capital market has contracted drastically, failing to play the role it was supposed to play in the financial sector. The irregularities and inefficiency we have nurtured for a long time have kept the capital market from being positive.” The DSE chairman said, “In the last 10 years, a weak IPO market worth Tk 650 crore has come. Good companies are coming in a very few. The number of investors in the market has come down by half in the last 10 years. There are even fewer active investors.” He highlighted that one of the units to measure the quality of the capital market is the amount of foreign investment. Currently, the amount of foreign investment has come down to below 1.0 percent. DSEX index gains 28.4 points as 294 stocks advance in early trading Although the amount of corporate bonds is shown to be one percent, in reality, it is not more than 0.51 percent. New IPOs, corporate bonds, and mutual funds are the new priority in the market, he pointed out. The capital market will hold the position of leading and coordinating skilled and trained manpower that will be needed to take the DSE forward. “We are recruiting manpower with full leadership qualities. We hope that the confidence in the market will be better than before, and investors will come back again. IT security audit is very important. We are revitalizing the DSE website, especially working to digitize the IPO. The bond market is also a management problem, we are working in coordination with the BSEC,” added the DSE chief. In response to a question, he said, "If the protection of DSE is legal, we will be able to work independently. We do not want CCBL to exist. BSEC, DSE, and CCBL will be respected and are working on this. We give importance to efficiency in recruiting manpower." Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Chairman AKM Habibur Rahman said, "The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) is not trying to impose anything on us. We are working cooperatively." DSE Brokers Association (DBA) Chairman Saiful Islam said that there was no good sign in a decade where professional people are involved in the development of the capital market. However, “Various positive steps have been taken as a result of pressure from various electronic and print media. It is playing a positive role in the market,” he pointed out. Regarding decentralisation, he said, instead of this everything is being made dependent on the finance ministry. Many things are being taken from the hands of the primary regulator and taken under the control of the ministry or the financial institution division (FID). As a result, the stakeholders are facing various problems, he said.      

Over 1.2 million investors have pulled out of Bangladesh's stock market in the past eight years, signalling a steep decline in market confidence. According to data from the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the number of Beneficiary Owner (BO) accounts has decreased significantly, with the total falling from 2.92 million in 2016 to 1.67 million in 2024. This drop represents a loss of 1.26 million investors over the past eight years. In 2024 alone, the number of BO accounts decreased by over 90,000, from 1.75 million in 2023 to 1.67 million, indicating a continued trend of investor disengagement. DSEX index gains 4.7 points in early trading Investors cite the stock market's volatility and instability as the primary reasons for their retreat. Many have been left disillusioned after suffering significant losses, particularly those who fell victim to margin loans, which often led to forced sales and financial ruin. Tariq Mahmud, a general investor, shared his concerns, saying, "Investors are losing money daily. The primary reason people invest in the stock market is for financial gain. However, continuous losses have led to a lack of trust." Altaf Hossain, another investor, highlighted the role of margin loans in exacerbating the problem, "Many took out loans to invest, hoping for high returns. But as share prices plummeted, they became trapped in margin loans. As the value of shares, including those of medium- and low-quality companies, dropped, forced sales occurred, even for good shares, resulting in severe financial losses." Bangladeshi expats set new remittance record: $2.64 billion in December 2024 Brokerage houses, once bustling with activity, now face a noticeable decline in business. The branch managers lament that there are no longer as many clients trading shares, and even expatriate investors, who once traded remotely via mobile phones, have pulled out of the market. Asad Liton, branch manager at Global Securities Limited, noted the bleak situation: "No new investors are showing interest, and many are withdrawing their funds from the market. Even those making losses are taking out their investments. Those who are leaving with bitter experiences are unlikely to return." If the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) fails to address these issues, experts warn that the market could face a permanent downturn. Mohammad Helal Uddin, an economist at Dhaka University and a member of BSEC's task force for market reforms, attributed the problem to a lack of investor confidence in the market. He said, "Many BO accounts have become inactive, and some investors have withdrawn their funds, further diminishing trust in the market." DSEX index up by 5.98 points and 184 companies’ price advance in first hour There have also been concerns about the impact of the BSEC's crackdown on market manipulation. Last year, the commission imposed fines exceeding Tk 7.2 billion on individuals and institutions involved in share price manipulation. Among the companies targeted was Beximco Limited, where the BSEC fined four individuals and five institutions a total of Tk 4.28 billion. Professor Helal noted, "Most of the fines being imposed now stem from the previous commission’s tenure. They failed to address 98% of market manipulation cases, and it is now the current commission's responsibility to bring offenders to justice. Only then will market discipline be restored." Bangladesh Bank appoints Ernst & Young, KPMG to audit 6 troubled banks An analysis of DSE's trading data reveals that not only has the number of BO accounts declined, but the DSE's main index has dropped by more than 1,000 points in the last year. Besides, the market capitalisation of the Dhaka Stock Exchange has fallen by approximately Tk 1.15 trillion, further underscoring the challenges facing the country’s stock market.  

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the country's premier capital market, experienced an uptrend in trading during the first hour on Tuesday. All three indices of the DSE – DSEX, DSES, and DS30 – posted gains in the initial session of the week. DSEX index gains 33.67 points, prices of 223 companies up The benchmark DSEX index rose by 28.4 points to settle at 5,227.25, while the DSES Shariah index increased by 8.76 points to 1,170.35. Besides, the DS30 blue-chip index climbed 3.75 points to 1,937.37. Trading activity during this period was robust, with shares and units totalling 6.34 crore exchanged through 43,539 transactions. The turnover amounted to Tk 143.1 crore, indicating strong selling pressure in the early session. DSEX index increases by 6.91 points with Tk 81.5 crore traded in first hour A total of 371 companies participated in trading on the day. Among them, the prices of 294 companies advanced, 39 declined and 38 remained unchanged.

The start of trading in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) was on Sunday  delayed by an hour and half due to an unavoidable situation, authorities said. In its notification the authorities at DSE did not specify the reason. Stock market rebounds as banks show resilience in year-end growth The trading started at 11:30 am instead of 10 am schedule. The 3 indexes of the Dhaka stock market DSEX, DSES, and DS30 saw an upward trend in the beginning of the session.

The stock market displayed a rebound last week, with banking stocks demonstrating resilience at the start of the new year. Investors showed renewed optimism, encouraged by opportunities following a challenging four years for the market. The new year began on a positive trajectory, with opportunistic investors capitalising on oversold stocks that had undergone significant corrections in 2024. According to analysts, the market's recovery was predominantly bolstered by select heavyweight banking stocks, particularly as major banks reported significant growth in operating profits for 2024. But, broader market sentiment remained tepid. DSEX index drops 3.22 points and Tk 86 crore traded in first hour The Dhaka Stock Exchange's (DSE) benchmark index, DSEX, ended the first trading week of the year on a positive note, gaining 15 points or 0.29 per cent to close at 5,200, recovering from a 37-point drop in the previous week. Similarly, the blue-chip DS30 index, representing 30 prominent companies, rose by 4 points to reach 1,931. However, the DSES index, which tracks Shariah-based companies, fell by 12 points to settle at 1,155. Investor participation also surged, with average daily turnover increasing by 18.6 per cent to Tk 348.1 crore, up from Tk 293.5 crore in the previous week. The banking sector led trading activities, accounting for 17.3 per cent of turnover, followed by pharmaceuticals (16.9 per cent) and engineering (8.8 per cent). Sectors ended the week with mixed performances. Banking stocks emerged as the highest gainers, rising by 3.4 per cent, while the jute sector suffered the most significant loss, declining by 4.9 per cent. Market participants noted that leading banks achieved double-digit growth in operating profits year-on-year in 2024, primarily driven by substantial income from investments in government securities. DSEX index drops 2.38 points, Tk 209.2cr traded in 3 hours on first day of 2025 This growth spurred an uptick in their stock prices, according to a prominent brokerage. Despite the rebound, many investors remain cautious, observing market trends in the absence of a major catalyst to dispel the persistent pessimism across trading floors. Meanwhile, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also posted gains. The CSE All Share Price Index (CASPI) increased by 117 points to close at 14,552, while the Selective Categories Index (CSCX) gained 66 points, settling at 8,859. The port city bourse traded 1.31 crore shares and mutual fund units, with a turnover value of Tk 167 crore. Strong performances in the pharmaceuticals and petroleum sectors largely drove the trading activities.