---

Stocks extended their losing streak this week, as escalating tensions in the Middle East continued to dampen investor sentiment and fuel uncertainty across the market.

Equities have been under sustained pressure since the Iran-Israel conflict erupted in late February, prompting cautious investors to offload holdings amid fears of declining asset values. The crisis has also raised concerns over energy supply disruptions and inflationary pressures in import-dependent economies like Bangladesh.

A leading market analyst said the downturn reflects growing anxiety over potential fuel shortages and rising import costs. “Investors remained cautious due to ongoing developments surrounding the Middle East war,” said Akramul Alam, noting that many preferred to stay on the sidelines amid uncertainty.

Economists also warned of broader macroeconomic risks. One expert said the evolving fuel crisis is intensifying vulnerabilities, as higher import bills increase demand for foreign currency and strain reserves. He also cautioned that prolonged instability in the Gulf could disrupt remittance inflows, a key support for the country’s balance of payments.

Against this backdrop, the market opened sharply lower at the start of the week and remained volatile. Of the five trading sessions, four ended in declines.

The benchmark DSEX index fell 96 points, or 1.82 per cent, to close at 5,220. The DS30 index dropped 39 points to 1,980, while the Shariah-based DSES index shed 14 points to 1,060.

Blue-chip stocks led the decline, with major issues such as BRAC Bank, Square Pharmaceuticals, Islami Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank and Pubali Bank collectively dragging the index down by 32 points.

According to a weekly market review, persistent geopolitical tensions and domestic energy concerns triggered broad-based selling across sectors.

Despite the downturn, market activity improved. Total turnover on the Dhaka Stock Exchange rose to Tk 33.4 billion during the week, with average daily turnover increasing by 22 per cent to Tk 6.68 billion.

Sector-wise, pharmaceuticals dominated trading with a 16.6 per cent share, followed by engineering (12.4 per cent) and textiles (9.8 per cent).

Interestingly, gainers outpaced losers, with 206 stocks advancing against 172 decliners, while 12 remained unchanged.

However, most sectors posted negative returns. Non-bank financial institutions saw the steepest correction of 3.6 per cent, followed by banking, telecom, power and engineering.

Among individual stocks, Acme Pesticides topped the turnover chart, followed by Orion Infusion, Summit Alliance Port, Khan Brothers and BRAC Bank.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange also ended the week in the red, with its benchmark index falling sharply, reflecting the broader bearish sentiment in the market.