United News of Bangladesh

The Dhaka Stock Exchange PLC has set new office hours and a revised trading schedule in line with the government’s energy-saving measures. The new timings will come into effect from Sunday and remain in force until further notice, according to a press release issued on Saturday. As per the revised schedule, office hours will run from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Trading on the bourse will begin at 10:00am, with the continuous trading session continuing until 1:55pm. The post-closing session will take place from 1:55pm to 2:00pm, while the market will officially close at 4:00pm. The move comes as part of broader efforts to tackle the ongoing energy crisis, with banks and other financial institutions also adjusting their office hours in compliance with the government’s directive.

The benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) declined by 148 points over the week as persistent selling pressure dominated four out of five trading sessions, eroding market capitalisation. According to the DSE’s weekly market pulse, most indices closed lower during the week. The broad index DSEX fell 148 points, while the Shariah-based DSES index dropped 19 points. The blue-chip DS30 index also lost 85 points. However, the SME index advanced by 134 points, reflecting gains in small and medium-sized companies. Market breadth remained negative, with prices falling for 206 issues, while 172 advanced and 12 remained unchanged. Despite the downturn, average daily turnover increased due to heightened selling activity. The DSE recorded an average turnover of Tk 668 crore during the week, up from Tk 531 crore in the previous week, marking a 25.78% rise. Continuous sell-offs led to a nearly 3% decline in market capitalisation over the five trading days. Sector-wise, prices rose in 14 sectors while declined in seven sectors. The banking sector saw a sharp drop of about 38%. Financial institutions declined by 26%, cement by nearly 6%, food and allied by 11%, telecom by 49%, and travel by 7%. On the gaining side, mutual funds posted the highest increase, surging 271%. Engineering rose 145%, paper and printing 157%, and tannery 165%. In terms of turnover, ACME Pesticides Limited topped the chart, followed by Orion Infusion, Summit Alliance Port Limited, Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag Industries Limited, and Brac Bank. In block trading, Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC led the board with shares worth Tk 18 crore changing hands during the week. IFIC Bank First Mutual Fund emerged as the top performer, delivering a 52% return. In contrast, Far East Finance and Investment Limited was the worst performer, with its return plunging by over 30%.

Oil prices continued to surge on worries of a prolonged Iran war but the Asian markets that were open Friday rose moderately in cautious trading, while others were closed for the Good Friday holidays. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 11.4% to $111.54 a barrel. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 7.8% to $109.03 per barrel. “A more extended conflict raises the threat to physical infrastructure, extends disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, and will entail a longer post-war recovery period, with price impacts spilling over later into the year,” according to a report from BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions. The U.S. only relies on the Persian Gulf for a fraction of the oil it imports, but oil is a commodity and prices are set in a global market. The situation is very different in Asia. Japan, for example, relies on access to the Strait of Hormuz for much of the nation’s oil import needs and would need to rely on alternative routes. But some analysts say Japan and oher nations are counting on an agreement with Iran to allow transports. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 0.9% in Friday morning trading to 52,938.62. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.1% to 5,344.41. The Shanghai Composite sank 0.5% to 3,899.57. Trading was closed in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia and India. Wall Street, where trading is closed Friday, finished its first winning week since the start of the Iran war, although trading started out with a decline driven by a surge in oil prices. That came after U.S. President Donald Trump late Wednesday vowed the U.S. will continue to attack Iran and failed to offer a clear timetable for ending the conflict in the Middle East. The S&P 500 rose 7.37 points, or 0.1%, to 6,582.69. Several days of solid gains this week helped the benchmark index notch a 3.4% gain for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 61.07 points, or 0.1%, to 46,504.67. The Nasdaq composite rose 38.23 points, or 0.2%, to 21,879.18. Both indexes also notched weekly gains. Treasury yields remained relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to to 4.30% from 4.32%. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar edged up to 159.66 Japanese yen from 159.53 yen. The euro cost $1.1535, inching down from $1.1537.

Bangladesh’s stock markets staged a strong comeback on Wednesday, snapping a three-day losing streak, as key indices surged and most listed companies posted gains. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX index jumped 94 points at the close of trading. The Shariah-based DSES index rose 12 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index advanced by 41 points. Market breadth remained overwhelmingly positive, with share prices of 327 companies rising against 39 decliners, while 25 issues remained unchanged. Turnover at the DSE also increased, with shares and units worth Tk 719 crore traded during the day, up from Tk 685 crore in the previous session. In the block market, shares of 40 companies worth around Tk 30 crore were traded, with Orion Infusion PLC recording the highest single transaction of over Tk 5 crore. Among individual performers, Silva Pharmaceuticals Limited topped the gainers’ chart with a 10 percent rise, while Fareast Finance and Investment Limited ended at the bottom, shedding 10 percent. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also witnessed a significant rise, with its benchmark CASPI index climbing 200 points. Most issues at the CSE closed higher, as 133 companies gained, 43 declined, and 24 remained unchanged. However, turnover at the CSE slightly decreased to Tk 42 crore, compared to Tk 45 crore in the previous session. Union Insurance Company Limited emerged as the top gainer at the CSE with a 10 percent increase, while Prime Finance and Investment Limited was the worst performer, losing 10 percent.

Indices fell at both the Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges on Sunday, the first trading day of the week, with most listed companies witnessing price declines. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX index dropped by 44 points, while the Shariah-based DSES lost 7 points and the blue-chip DS30 index declined by 21 points. Losers dominated the market: share prices fell for 250 companies against 114 gainers, while 30 remained unchanged. However, turnover increased compared to the previous session, with total transactions reaching Tk 646 crore, up from Tk 603 crore earlier. In the block market, shares worth Tk 32 crore from 44 companies were traded, with Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC topping the list with transactions worth Tk 8.5 crore. Among individual issues, Bangladesh Autocars Limited emerged as the top gainer with nearly 10 percent price appreciation, while Prime Textile Spinning Mills Limited was the worst performer, losing around 7 percent. Meanwhile, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended in the red after early gains failed to sustain. The overall CASPI index fell by 112 points at the close. Prices declined for most issues, with 98 companies posting losses, 82 advancing and 19 remaining unchanged. Total turnover at the port city bourse rose to Tk 32 crore from Tk 20 crore in the previous session. Among the top performers, Hamid Fabrics PLC gained nearly 10 percent, while Reliance Insurance PLC shed about 10 percent to become the worst loser.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) bounced back on Wednesday after declining in the previous session following the Eid holidays, while the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) failed to recover, ending in the red despite most stocks posting gains. At the DSE, the benchmark DSEX advanced by 31 points. The Shariah-based DSES gained 1 point, while the blue-chip DS30 index rose by 8 points. Gainers outpaced losers: 241 companies saw share price increases against declines in 102, while 47 remained unchanged. Turnover also improved, with total transactions reaching Tk 603 crore, up from Tk 492 crore in the previous session. In the block market, shares of 21 companies worth Tk 24 crore were traded, with Asiatic Laboratories Limited topping the list with Tk 7 crore in transactions. Most of the top gainers were mutual funds. Units of EBL NRB Mutual Fund, PHP First Mutual Fund and Popular Life First Mutual Fund rose by 10 percent each. On the losing side, Generation Next Fashions Limited plunged more than 9.5 percent to the bottom. Meanwhile, the CSE index dropped by 39 points, although the majority of stocks recorded gains. Prices rose for 93 companies, fell for 64, and remained unchanged for 17. Turnover at the port city bourse increased to Tk 20 crore from Tk 18 crore in the previous session. Like the DSE, mutual funds dominated the gainers’ chart at the CSE. Units of LR Global Bangladesh Mutual Fund One, PHP First Mutual Fund, SEML FBSL Growth Mutual Fund and EBL NRB Mutual Fund rose by 10 percent each. However, Shahjalal Islami Bank PLC fell 10 percent, becoming the worst performer at the CSE.

Stocks opened the week on a negative note at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) on Sunday as key indices fell sharply, most listed companies lost value and overall turnover declined. The benchmark DSEX index dropped 49 points during the day’s trading. The DSES, the Shariah-based index, lost 8 points while the blue-chip DS30 index fell 23 points. Most of the listed companies ended in the red. Out of the traded issues, prices of 246 companies declined, while 99 advanced and 45 remained unchanged. DSE, CSE  indices end week on positive note Market turnover also decreased. A total of Tk 523 crore worth of shares and units were traded on the premier bourse, down from Tk 591 crore in the previous session. In the gainers’ list, Mercantile Bank PLC led the table at the DSE with a 5 percent price increase, while ICB Islamic Bank Ltd was the day’s worst performer, losing nearly 6 percent. Meanwhile, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) saw no major movement in its key index, though most companies posted gains. At the port city bourse, 94 issues advanced, 52 declined, and 19 remained unchanged. Turnover at the CSE increased significantly to Tk 35 crore, compared to Tk 14 crore in the previous session. Among the top performers, FAS Finance & Investment Ltd rose 10 percent to lead the gainers’ list, while Index Agro Industries Ltd plunged nearly 10 percent, becoming the worst loser of the day.

Stocks closed higher at both the country’s bourses on Wednesday, with the majority of listed companies posting gains, though trading turnover declined compared with the previous session. The benchmark DSEX of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) rose by 2 points. The Shariah-based DSES gained 3 points, while the blue-chip DS30 remained unchanged. Of the traded issues, 236 advanced, 98 declined and 57 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor. Turnover at the DSE fell to Tk 523 crore from Tk 593 crore in the previous session. In the block market, shares worth Tk 35 crore from 28 companies were traded, with Orion Infusion PLC leading the list with shares worth Tk 14 crore changing hands. Vanguard AML Rupali Bank Balanced Fund topped the gainers’ chart on the DSE with a price surge of nearly 9.5 percent, while National Bank PLC became the worst loser, shedding about 5.5 percent. Meanwhile, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended higher, with its benchmark CASPI advancing by 48 points. Among the traded issues at the CSE, 81 gained, 44 declined and 25 remained unchanged. Turnover at the port city bourse dropped to Tk 39 crore, down from Tk 47 crore in the previous session. Prime Finance & Investment Limited emerged as the top gainer at the CSE with a 10 percent price rise, while Sonali Life Insurance Company Limited ended at the bottom of the losers’ list, losing around 8 percent.

Indices posted a strong rebound for the second consecutive day at the country’s stock markets on Tuesday, with major indices rose at both the Dhaka and Chattogram bourses, and most listed companies recorded price gains. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX index advanced by 148 points. The Shariah-based DSES index gained 23 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index rose 62 points. Most stocks closed higher: prices of 339 companies increased, compared with declines in 13 issues, while 37 remained unchanged. Turnover also improved significantly. Shares and units worth nearly Tk 600 crore traded during the session, up from Tk 416 crore in the previous trading day. In the block market, shares of 31 companies worth about Tk 76 crore changed hands. Olympic Industries PLC led the chart with block trades worth Tk 49 crore. Pragati Life Insurance PLC topped the gainers’ list on the DSE with a nearly 10 percent price rise, while Metro Spinning Limited was the day’s worst performer with a decline of about 2 percent. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also witnessed a sharp rise, with the overall CASPI index climbing 323 points. Most companies posted gains there as well: 131 issues advanced against 32 decliners, while prices of 10 companies remained unchanged. However, turnover slightly decreased at the port city bourse. Shares and units worth Tk 47 crore traded, down from Tk 48 crore in the previous session. At the CSE, NRBC Bank PLC emerged as the top gainer with nearly a 10 percent price increase, while Sonargaon Textiles Limited ended at the bottom of the list with a decline of around 10 percent.

Bangladesh’s two stock exchanges opened the week with a steep fall on Sunday, as indices plunged in both markets and share prices declined for the majority of listed companies. The benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), DSEX, dropped by 231 points during the day’s trading. The Shariah-based DSES index fell by 35 points while the blue-chip DS30 index declined by 90 points. Most listed companies ended in the red: prices fell for 371 firms, while only 10 gained and nine remained unchanged. Although turnover slightly increased, selling pressure dominated the market. A total of shares and units worth Tk 531 crore were traded on the DSE, up from Tk 459 crore in the previous session. In the block market, shares worth Tk 23 crore from 30 companies were traded, with Asiatic Laboratories Limited topping the list with transactions worth about Tk 4 crore. City Insurance Company Limited led the gainers’ chart on the DSE with a 5 percent rise in share price, while Alif Manufacturing Company Limited was the worst loser, shedding 10 percent. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also witnessed a sharp decline as its overall index CASPI dropped by 419 points. Prices fell for 145 companies against 17 gainers, while two remained unchanged on the CSE. Turnover on the port city bourse fell sharply to about Tk 16 crore, compared with Tk 41 crore in the previous trading session. Prime Bank 1st ICB AMCL Mutual Fund topped the gainers’ list on the CSE with a 10 percent rise, while Familytex (BD) Limited was the worst loser, losing 10 percent of its value.