Stocks open year on positive note with new hope

Stocks opened higher on Thursday, the opening day of the New Year 2026, as bargain hunters favoured taking positions in potentially lucrative shares amid renewed optimism.

The market opened higher, aided by the price appreciation of particular large-cap stocks, as opportunistic investors are expected to exhibit a year of resurgence in 2026 from the current bottom rock, aided by political stability and macroeconomic recovery after the election.

Following the previous day’s rise, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went up by almost 35 points or 0.72 per cent to 4900 at 12:00 noon, when the report was filed.

The DS30 index, a group of 30 prominent companies, gained 11 points to 1,864, while the DSES index, which represents Shariah-based companies, rose 7 points to 1,007.

Turnover, another important indicator of the market, stood at Tk 1.30 billion till then.

Of the issues traded till then, 297 advanced, 28 declined, and 59 issues remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor till then.

Sonali Paper was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 60 million changing hands till then.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange saw an upward trend till then with its All Shares Price Index (CASPI)—gaining 44 points to stand at 13,655, while the Selective Categories Index – CSCX rose 26 points to 8,419 till then.

babulfexpress@gmail.com