B Mirror Report : The majority of shares lost value on the first trading day of 2025. On the last trading day, however, a relatively greater number of shares saw price increases. Additionally, the index increased by almost 4 points. In spite of this, the index fell by 351 points, or over 7%, over the course of the whole year. The index began the year at 5,216 points and ended yesterday, Tuesday, at 4,865 points.
A review shows that amid continuous price declines, the index fell to 4,588 points during trading on 29 May. Thirteen weeks later, on 8 September, the index crossed 5,674 points intraday. Since then, it has once again been caught in a cycle of declining prices.
Many had expected that political stability surrounding the national parliamentary election would return, private sector investment would gain momentum, and vibrancy would return to the stock market. However, this expectation has not yet been reflected in the market. On the contrary, price declines intensified in the final quarter of the year.
Further review shows that in 2025, out of 360 listed companies, 219 lost value, accounting for nearly 61 percent of the total. In contrast, 135 companies (about 37.5 percent) saw price increases, while prices of the remaining six companies remained unchanged. In addition, out of 37 listed mutual funds, prices of 30 funds declined.
In terms of per-share prices, the financial institutions sector suffered the highest decline at 26.93 percent. Of the 23 companies listed in this sector, prices of 20 companies fell. The banking sector declined by an average of about 13 percent, while the pharmaceuticals and chemicals sector fell by around 9 percent, the cement sector by nearly 9 percent, and the telecommunications sector by about 13.5 percent. Comparatively fewer shares lost value in the engineering, textile, paper and printing, and miscellaneous sectors.
At the individual company level, shares of 26 companies lost between 50 percent and 85 percent of their value. Shares of companies under liquidation plans International Leasing, Fareast Finance, Premier Leasing, and BIFC lost more than 80 percent. Compared to the end of last year, shares of at least 122 companies lost 20 percent or more by the end of this year.
Despite the adverse conditions, shares of five companies increased two to three-and-a-half times. These companies are GQ Ball Pen, Dominage Steel, Information Services, Yakin Polymer, and City General Insurance. In addition, shares of 19 companies and two mutual funds rose by 50 to 95 percent.
In 2024, average daily share trading on the DSE amounted to Tk 632 crore. In the outgoing year, this fell to Tk 521.59 crore. This year, total share transactions on the DSE—including both the main market and the SME platform—amounted to Tk 125,182 crore.
