Staff Correspondent: Bangladesh’s stock market continued its recovery for a second consecutive week, driven by post-budget optimism and renewed investor interest in fundamentally strong blue-chip stocks. 

The benchmark DSEX index gained 140.99 points, or 2.55 per cent, during the week to close at 5,661.38 points. The DS30 index, which tracks large-cap companies, rose 3.39 per cent to 2,143.12 points, while the Shariah-based DSES index advanced 3.21 per cent to 1,150.47 points. 

Despite the strong index performance, market liquidity remained largely unchanged. Average daily turnover edged down by 0.29 per cent week-on-week to Tk 12.84 billion, indicating that investors remained selective in their purchases. Market capitalisation increased by 0.5 per cent to Tk 6.93 trillion. 

According to a weekly market review by Sheltech Brokerage Limited, the rally was mainly to investors’ positive reaction to the national budget, which included measures viewed as supportive of the capital market. The week began with broad-based buying interest, although some profit-taking emerged in the middle of the week. However, buying momentum returned strongly toward the end of the week, particularly in blue-chip counters. 

Among the major contributors to the DSEX gain, Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC emerged as the top performer, adding nearly 37 points to the benchmark index after its share price surged 19.59 per cent during the week. Beximco Pharmaceuticals also played a significant role, contributing more than 20 points to the index as investors responded positively to expectations regarding pending earnings announcements and prospects for low-cost generic cystic fibrosis drugs. 

Other major positive contributors included Square Pharmaceuticals, Pubali Bank, City Bank, Renata, Linde Bangladesh and Robi Axiata. On the downside, BRAC Bank, One Bank, Pioneer Insurance and Pragati Life Insurance weighed on the index. 

Sector-wise, Information Technology posted the strongest weekly return, gaining 4.93 per cent, followed by Financial Institutions with 4.75 per cent and Mutual Funds with 4.58 per cent. In contrast, the Miscellaneous sector suffered a sharp decline of 16.05 per cent, making it the worst-performing sector of the week. 

Trading activity remained concentrated in a few sectors. Insurance accounted for the highest share of market turnover at 15.87 per cent, followed by Textile at 12.78 per cent and Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals at 10.95 per cent. 

Among individual stocks, SAIF Powertec topped the gainers’ list with a weekly rise of 39.71 per cent, while NFM Limited and SS Steel gained 28.48 percent and 27.78 per cent, respectively. On the losing side, Beximco plunged 40.72 per cent, followed by Shyampur Sugar Mills and Regent Textile. 

Market analysts said investors are increasingly rotating funds into fundamentally strong companies as regulators move to curb speculative trading in weaker stocks. They noted that the sustainability of the ongoing recovery will depend on whether broader investor participation emerges beyond a handful of blue-chip shares. 

Looking ahead, investors are expected to closely monitor post-budget policy implementation, corporate earnings developments and regulatory measures to determine whether the market can maintain its upward momentum in the coming weeks.