Written by The Banking Post
The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) witnessed a significant surge in turnover on Sunday, reaching Tk 11.37 billion, as investor optimism soared following the United States’ decision to reduce import tariffs on Bangladeshi goods.
The benchmark DSEX index opened at 5,443 points and quickly crossed the 5,500-mark within the first 15 minutes of trading. It closed the session at 5,536 points, gaining 92.72 points from the previous day — a level not seen since October 1, 2023.
Investor sentiment was bolstered by the US decision to lower its supplementary tariff on Bangladeshi imports from 35 percent to 20 percent, on top of the existing 15 percent base rate. The move, following three months of negotiations, was particularly favorable for Bangladesh’s textile sector, which supplies 85 percent of the country’s $8 billion annual apparel exports to the US.
Textile stocks led the day’s rally, with 54 percent of the 58 listed textile companies posting gains. The sector’s turnover nearly tripled to Tk 1.49 billion, significantly higher than the usual Tk 400–600 million range. Among the top gainers was Malek Spinning Mills, which climbed 9 percent to Tk 29 from Tk 26.60 the previous session.
The renewed momentum in the market comes in the wake of political and regulatory reforms introduced after the August 2024 transition, which saw the fall of the Awami League government amid a student-led mass movement.
After reaching 6,015 points on August 11 last year, the index remained above 5,500 for about six weeks before entering a prolonged decline. For most of the past 13 months, it stayed below that threshold.
Market analysts credit recent reforms — including task force recommendations, stricter enforcement, and actions against price manipulation — for gradually restoring investor confidence, with visible improvements in market performance from late June onward.
Sunday’s total turnover also included Tk 337.9 million from block trades, up from the previous session’s total of Tk 10.63 billion. The last time turnover exceeded this level was on August 14, 2024, when it reached Tk 12.44 billion.
Of the 398 stocks traded, 218 advanced, 122 declined, and 58 remained unchanged.
By sector, banks led the turnover chart with Tk 2.86 billion — far above the usual Tk 600–700 million range — followed by pharmaceuticals at Tk 1.26 billion, and textiles in third place.
Other notable gainers included Standard Bank, Bangladesh Submarine Cables, and Malek Spinning Mills. On the other end, SEML Lecture Equity Management Fund, Hami Industries (formerly Imam Button), and Asia Insurance posted the sharpest losses of the day.
