The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) dropped below 4,700 on Tuesday, closing at 4,678 after a 41-point decline, marking its lowest level since August 12, 2020, when it stood at 4,633.
This marks the fifth consecutive session of decline, with the index shedding 123 points over this period.
Market turnover remained below Tk 300 crore, reflecting low investor participation amid growing uncertainty. Trading volume on Tuesday was Tk 272.74 crore, down Tk 9.87 crore from the previous day’s Tk 282.61 crore, continuing a 12-day streak of sub-300 crore trading.
The ongoing market downturn has deepened investor concerns, with many struggling to protect their capital. The decline mirrors the severe market crash during the COVID-19 pandemic, which began impacting Bangladesh in March 2020, leading to a 66-day stock market closure.
Alongside the DSEX, the DSE-30 index, comprising 30 select companies, fell 17 points to 1,724, while the DSE Shariah index dropped 8 points to 1,024. Of the companies traded on the DSE, 83 saw price increases, 237 experienced declines, and 72 remained unchanged.
Among high-dividend (10 per cent or more) companies, 49 rose, 125 fell, and 39 were unchanged. For lower-dividend companies, 17 rose, 54 fell, and 12 were unchanged. In the ‘Z’ group (non-dividend-paying), 17 companies rose, 58 fell, and 21 remained unchanged. Of the 36 listed mutual funds, one rose, 14 fell, and 21 were unchanged.
BRAC Bank led trading with Tk 110.2 crore in shares, followed by Square Pharmaceuticals (Tk 100.67 crore) and Beach Hatchery (Tk 80.31 crore). Other top-traded companies included Baraka Patenga Power, IFIC Bank, Shahinpur Ceramics, S Alam Cold Rolled Steels, Midland Bank, Nahi Aluminum, and British American Tobacco.
At the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), the CASPI index fell 49 points. Of the 207 companies traded, 61 rose, 115 fell, and 31 remained unchanged. The transaction value was Tk 10.11 crore, down from Tk 11.73 crore the previous day.