Stocks in Bangladesh extended their rally for a third straight session today, driven by renewed buying interest in large-cap shares and robust demand for insurance stocks. Both major bourses, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), closed higher. The benchmark DSEX index of the DSE rose by 36.0 points to close at 5,653, up from 5,617 in the previous session.
Market Sentiment and Performance
Market analysts attribute the upbeat sentiment to tax rebate benefits, which have made equity investments more attractive. This has encouraged investors to increase their market exposure. The market opened strong and maintained its upward momentum throughout the trading session, with broad-based buying across most sectors. Insurance stocks were among the top performers amid expectations of near-term profit opportunities.
Turnover and Sectoral Performance
Turnover on the DSE increased by 18.1 percent to Tk 11.1 billion, compared with Tk 9.4 billion in the previous session. Pharmaceuticals accounted for the largest share of turnover at 14.9 percent, followed by general insurance at 14.3 percent and textiles at 12.9 percent. Most sectors posted gains, with services advancing 4.5 percent, general insurance 3.8 percent, and textiles 3.4 percent. Conversely, miscellaneous shares fell 1.4 percent, while telecom and financial institutions declined 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.
Broad Market Breadth and CSE Performance
Out of 396 issues traded, 270 advanced, 61 declined, and 65 remained unchanged, indicating a broadly positive market breadth. The Chittagong Stock Exchange also closed higher. Its Selective Categories Index (CSCX) gained 31.5 points, while the All Share Price Index (CASPI) advanced 29.4 points, reflecting positive sentiment across the country's capital markets.
