Stock markets end higher ahead of earnings season

Business Desk :

Both of Bangladesh’s stock exchanges the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) ended in positive territory for the second consecutive session on Thursday as investors remained cautious ahead of the upcoming earnings season.

At the DSE, the DSEX, the benchmark broad index, rose by 55.2 points to close at 5,150 points, up from 5,095 points in the previous session.
Market turnover increased by 32 percent, reaching Tk 4.7 billion compared to Tk 3.6 billion earlier.

Market analysts noted that the session started with some jitters but buying interest gradually returned, pushing the index higher. On the sectoral front, Pharma stocks recorded the highest turnover at 17.2 percent, followed by Textile (10.8 percent) and Bank (10.2 percent). The Jute (5.1 percent), Paper (4.3 percent), and Textile (1.7 percent) sectors saw the strongest gains, while General Insurance (-0.2 percent ) and Ceramic (-0.4 percent ) saw slight declines.

Meanwhile, the CSE also ended on a positive note. The Selective Categories’ Index (CSCX) rose by 80.9 points, while the Chittagong All Share Price Index (CASPI) increased by 124 points, reflecting overall optimism among investors.

Analysts said the market’s positive momentum was driven by expectations of strong corporate earnings and renewed investor confidence, particularly in export-oriented sectors like textile and jute. They also highlighted that foreign investors continued to maintain a cautious stance, keeping volatility relatively low.