Written by The Banking Post
Stocks opened lower on Tuesday as investors stayed cautious amid lingering uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict, with fears of fuel price volatility weighing heavily on market sentiment.
The sell-off was broad-based from the opening bell, reflecting concerns over a potential energy shock. Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on imported fuel—much of it routed through the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz—has heightened investor anxiety over possible supply disruptions.
Within the first hour of trading, the DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, fell 26 points, or 0.50 per cent, to 5,204.
The DS30 index, comprising blue-chip stocks, dropped 12 points to 1,967, while the DSES index, tracking Shariah-compliant companies, edged down by 2 points to 1,058.
Trading activity also remained muted, with turnover standing at Tk 2.18 billion by 11:00am.
A similar trend was seen on the Chittagong Stock Exchange, where the CASPI index declined 98 points to 14,684. The CSCX index also lost 62 points to 8,960.
Market participants said investors are taking a wait-and-see approach as geopolitical risks and energy market uncertainty continue to cloud the near-term outlook.
