Market dips in early trading over ongoing Middle East conflict

Bangla Press Desk:  Stocks opened lower on Tuesday as investors continued their cautious stance amid lingering uncertainties stemming from the Middle East war, triggering a selloff across the trading board.

Market participants expressed growing anxiety over fuel price volatility amid the ongoing war, which has heightened fears of a prolonged energy crisis.

Bangladesh, heavily reliant on imported fuel—much of it transported through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz—remains particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.

Following the development, the market opened lower on Tuesday, with sellers predominant across the trading floor amid heightened concerns over the market’s momentum.

The DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, slid 26 points or 0.50 per cent to 5,204 within the first hour of trading at 11:00 am.

The DS30 index, comprising 30 leading companies, also dropped 12 points to 1,967, while the DSES index, representing Shariah-compliant firms, shed 2 points to settle at 1,058.

Market liquidity remained subdued. Total turnover on the DSE stood at Tk 2.18 billion until then.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange also opened lower, with the All Shares Price Index (CASPI) falling 98 points to 14,684, and the Selective Categories Index (CSCX) shed 62 points to 8,960 till then.