Stocks opened lower on Sunday, with the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) falling below the 5,500-point threshold in early trading as risk-averse investors continued selling amid persistent concerns over the country’s worsening energy crisis.

Market operators said prolonged shortages of gas and electricity were weighing heavily on investor sentiment, as factory shutdowns, production disruptions and increased reliance on costly alternative energy sources raised concerns over industrial output and corporate profitability.

The worsening energy situation has already disrupted operations at a number of industrial units. Some factories have been forced to scale back production, while others are increasingly relying on expensive alternative sources of energy to keep their operations running.

The DSEX, the broad index of the DSE, fell 21 points, or 0.39 per cent, to 5,493 after the first hour of trading at 11:00am, when the report was filed.

The DS30 index, comprising blue-chip stocks, declined 8 points to 2,086, while the DSES index, which tracks Shariah-compliant stocks, shed 3 points to 1,101.
Trading activity remained subdued, with turnover on the premier bourse standing at Tk 1.71 billion after the first hour, indicating limited investor participation amid heightened caution.

Market breadth was sharply negative, with 225 issues declining against only 93 advancing, while 64 remained unchanged.

Envoy Textiles emerged as the most-traded issue until then, with shares worth Tk 128 million changing hands.

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

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