The Dhaka Stock Exchange witnessed a sharp decline throughout the week, losing Tk 3,396 crore in market capitalisation as share prices dropped on most trading days.
An analysis of the DSE鈥檚 weekly market report shows that the bourse started the week with a market capitalization of Tk 7,15,079 crore, which dropped to Tk 7,11,683 crore by Thursday, shedding Tk 3,396.18 crore.
Alongside the fall in market cap, weekly turnover also slumped, slipping from the Tk 900 crore range to Tk 600 crore, marking a 24 percent decline in total trade value.
All key indices ended lower on the week. The benchmark DSEX shed 57 points, the blue-chip DS30 dropped 23 points, while the Shariah-based DSES lost 7 points.
Out of the traded issues, prices of 274 companies declined against 99 gainers, while 23 remained unchanged.
Prices dropped across most sectors, with only five out of 21 sectors ending higher. Banking and financial institutions led the downturn, with banking shares falling 55 percent in value and trade volume dipping 52 per cent. Out of 36 listed banks, 28 closed lower.
Financial institutions also saw heavy losses, with prices falling 53 percent and trade volume dropping 51 percent. Insurance shares also declined, with general insurers down 32 percent and life insurers 7 percent.
In contrast, the tannery industries surged 147 percent, followed by jute with a 136 percent rise. Tourism, paper & printing, and corporate bonds also closed higher.
Standard Ceramic Industries topped the weekly gainer list with a 36 percent return, climbing from Tk 71 to Tk 97 per share. Beximco Green Sukuk gained 20 percent, while Dominage Steel Building and Systems rose 19 percent. Orion Infusion advanced 18 percent, from Tk 388 to Tk 459 per share.
Other notable gainers included Samata Leather Complex, Information Services Network, Yeakin Polymer, Legacy Footwear, GQ Ball Pen Industries, and Anwar Galvanizing.
AIBL First Islamic Mutual Fund led the losers with a 14 percent weekly decline, followed by SEML Lecture Equity Management Fund with a 12 percent drop. Shares of Social Islami Bank fell 11 percent as its earnings per share (EPS) dropped 4 per cent over the last six months.
Other major losers included Maksons Spinning, Regent Textile, MBL First Mutual Fund, Nurani Dyeing & Sweater, Uttara Finance, Peoples Leasing, and SEML FBLSL Growth Fund.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) mirrored the DSE鈥檚 losses, with all indices finishing lower. The CASPI fell 221 points, the Shariah-based CSI dropped 11 points, while CSE-30 and CSE-50 lost 200 and 21 points, respectively.
Of the 313 issues traded on the CSE, 209 declined, 88 advanced, and 16 remained unchanged.
Orion Infusion topped the turnover and gainer lists with a 21 per cent weekly rise. On the other hand, SEML Lecture Equity Management Fund led the losers with a 23 per cent drop.
Despite the weeklong slump, investor participation increased. According to Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL), 939 new beneficiary owners鈥� (BO) accounts were opened during the week.
Market insiders said a balance between ups and downs is crucial to attract major investments, while quality IPOs could help revive the market.