Written by The Banking Post
Stocks opened higher on Wednesday as investors extended recent buying momentum ahead of the national budget, driven by expectations of policy support, regulatory reforms and measures to revive the capital market.
The FY2026-27 budget is set to be unveiled on Thursday, with market participants closely watching for initiatives that could strengthen investor confidence and support broader economic growth.
Adding to the positive sentiment, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) recently removed the long-standing floor price restrictions on Beximco and Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, ending a market intervention that had remained in place for nearly four years.
By 11:00am, the benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) had gained 17 points, or 0.30 per cent, to 5,536.
Although shares of Beximco and Islami Bank hit their lower circuit limits for a second straight session following the removal of the floor prices, their effect on the broader market remained limited. Beximco is no longer part of the benchmark index, while sponsor-directors hold around 88 per cent of Islami Bank’s shares, reducing its influence on overall market performance.
Market operators said investors are increasingly hopeful that the new BSEC leadership will focus on improving transparency, strengthening corporate governance and restoring confidence in the stock market.
The positive trend was reflected across all major indices. The blue-chip DS30 index advanced 5 points to 2,085, while the Shariah-based DSES index rose 4 points to 1,116.
Trading activity also remained strong. Turnover on the DSE reached Tk 3.84 billion within the first hour of trading.
Market breadth was firmly positive, with 224 stocks advancing, 111 declining and 54 remaining unchanged.
Asiatic Laboratories emerged as the most actively traded stock, with shares worth Tk 143 million changing hands by 11:00am.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange also moved higher, with the CASPI index gaining 53 points to 15,371 and the CSCX index rising 36 points to 9,447 in early trading.