Stocks opened lower on Sunday as growing concerns over Bangladesh’s prolonged energy crisis weighed heavily on investor sentiment.
Market operators said persistent shortages of gas and electricity continued to disrupt industrial operations, with factory shutdowns, production interruptions and increased reliance on costly alternative energy sources raising concerns about output and corporate profitability.
The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) fell 30 points, or 0.53 per cent, to 5,632 at 11:00 am, when the report was filed.
The DS30 index, comprising blue-chip stocks, fell 10 points to 2,130, while the Shariah-based DSES index declined six points to 1,131.
Trading activity remained subdued, with turnover on the premier bourse standing at Tk 1.65 billion during the first hour of trading, indicating limited investor participation.
Market breadth was sharply negative, with 249 issues declining against only 72 advancing, while 60 remained unchanged.
Saiham Textile emerged as the most-traded issue during the period, with shares worth Tk 135 million changing hands.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also opened lower. Its All Share Price Index (CASPI) lost four points to 15,168, while the CSE Selective Categories Index (CSCX) shed four points to 9,260 at 11:00 am.
