Stocks opened higher on Wednesday as bargain hunters continued accumulating fundamentally strong and selective shares in anticipation of short-term gains.
Market operators said investor sentiment remained upbeat amid expectations that the proposed amendments to the margin lending rules will be relaxed before receiving final approval.
The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) recently published draft amendments to the Margin Rules, aiming to make margin lending more flexible and investor-friendly, which has helped strengthen investor confidence.
By 11:00am, the benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) rose 15 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 5,914, driven by buying in large-cap and fundamentally sound stocks.
Trading activity also stayed strong. Turnover on the premier bourse reached Tk 3.25 billion within the first hour, reflecting sustained buying interest across key sectors.
Market breadth remained firmly positive, with 221 issues advancing, 102 declining and 64 remaining unchanged as of 11:00am, indicating broad-based gains.
Low-cap stocks dominated the turnover chart, with Fu-Wang Ceramics emerging as the day's most-traded stock by value after shares worth Tk 140 million changed hands during the first hour.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also traded in positive territory. Its All Share Price Index (CASPI) gained 50 points to 15,849, while the CSE Selective Categories Index (CSCX) advanced 29 points to 9,682 by 11:00am. babulfexpress@gmail.com
