Stocks opened on a positive note on Wednesday after a one-day pause, with investors remaining active on both the buying and selling sides amid sustained optimism over the market outlook.
Market operators said investor confidence has strengthened following the market-friendly fiscal measures introduced through the Finance Bill 2026 and easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. However, some investors continued to book profits after the market's recent rally, limiting further gains.
By 11:00 am, DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) had advanced 23 points, or 0.40 per cent, to 5,804, supported by strong buying interest in large-cap and fundamentally strong stocks.
The positive momentum follows Parliament's passage of the Finance Bill 2026 last week. The legislation reduced taxes on dividend income, removed the investment ceiling for claiming tax rebates on investments in mutual funds, and relaxed listing requirements for companies seeking to raise capital through the stock market.
Market participants believe these measures will make equity investments more attractive, encourage greater participation by both retail and institutional investors, strengthen the mutual fund industry, and facilitate corporate fundraising through the capital market.
Turnover on the premier bourse reached Tk 3.0 billion in the first hour of trading, reflecting healthy investor participation.
Market breadth remained strongly positive. Of the issues traded by 11:00 am, 270 advanced, 58 declined, and 62 remained unchanged, indicating broad-based buying interest across most sectors.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also traded in positive territory. Its benchmark index, CASPI, rose 8 points to 15,541, while the CSCX index gained 2 points to 9,516 in early trading.
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