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Stocks opened higher on Wednesday as investors remained optimistic ahead of the national budget announcement, extending the market's recent rally on expectations of supportive policy measures and regulatory reforms.
Finance Minister is scheduled to unveil the FY2026-27 budget on Thursday, with investors closely watching for measures that could help revive the country's capital market and broader economy.
Adding to the positive sentiment, the newly reconstituted Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) on Monday lifted the floor price restrictions on Beximco and Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, bringing an end to a controversial market intervention that had remained in place for nearly four years.
The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) rose 17 points, or 0.30 per cent, to 5,536 by 11:00 am, reflecting renewed investor confidence and growing expectations of market-friendly reforms.
Although shares of Beximco and Islami Bank hit their lower circuit breaker limits for the second consecutive session following the removal of the floor price, their impact on the broader market remained limited. Beximco was excluded from the benchmark index in the latest annual index rebalancing, while around 88 per cent of Islami Bank's shares are held by sponsor-directors, reducing the stocks' influence on market movements.
Market operators said investors are increasingly hopeful that the new BSEC leadership will focus on improving market transparency, strengthening corporate governance and restoring confidence in the capital market. Repeated government commitments to revitalising the stock market have also encouraged investors to increase their exposure to equities.
The positive momentum was visible across all major indices. The blue-chip DS30 Index advanced 5 points to 2,085, while the Shariah-based DSES Index gained 4 points to 1,116.
Turnover on the premier bourse stood at Tk 3.84 billion within the first hour of trading, indicating strong investor participation.
Market breadth remained firmly positive, with 224 issues advancing, 111 declining and 54 remaining unchanged.
Asiatic Laboratories emerged as the most actively traded stock, with shares worth Tk 143 million changing hands by 11:00 am.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also witnessed a positive trend in early trading. The CASPI Index gained 53 points to reach 15,371, while the CSCX Index advanced 36 points to 9,447.
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