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Stocks opened lower on Sunday, with the Dhaka Stock Exchange’s (DSE) key index falling below 5,500 points as persistent concerns over the country’s worsening energy crisis kept risk-averse investors on the selling side.

The DSEX fell 21 points, or 0.39 per cent, to 5,493 by 11:00am. The DS30 index of blue-chip stocks dropped 8 points to 2,086, while the DSES index declined 3 points to 1,101.

Prolonged gas and electricity shortages have weighed on market sentiment, with factory shutdowns, production disruptions and rising dependence on costly alternative energy sources fuelling concerns over industrial output and corporate profitability.

Trading remained subdued, with turnover reaching Tk 1.71 billion in the first hour, suggesting limited investor participation amid heightened caution.

Market breadth was sharply negative, as 225 issues declined against 93 gainers, while 64 remained unchanged. Envoy Textiles was the most-traded stock, with shares worth Tk 128 million changing hands.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange also opened lower. Its All Share Price Index (CASPI) fell 16 points to 14,850, while the CSE Selective Categories Index (CSCX) shed 7 points to 9,065 at 11:00am.