Despite fluctuations in the indices, overall transactions showed an upward trend, reflecting growing investor participation.

According to the weekly market update, the market capitalization at the beginning of the week was BDT 6,89,739.90 crore. By the end of the week, it had risen to BDT 6,95,191.58 crore, marking a 0.79% growth over the period.

The DSEX, the benchmark index of DSE, experienced a marginal decline of 1.11 points, representing a 0.02% drop. However, the DSES index saw a gain of 7.19 points or 0.62%, while the DS30 index dropped by 9.22 points or 0.48%.

Throughout the week, the total turnover on the DSE amounted to BDT 2,351.73 crore, an increase from the previous week's BDT 2,107.23 crore, reflecting an 11.60% rise. The average daily turnover stood at BDT 470.34 crore, up from BDT 421.44 crore in the preceding week.

A total of 399 companies and mutual funds were traded during the week. Out of these, 159 securities saw price gains, 203 recorded declines, and 37 remained unchanged.

Market analysts suggest that the rise in transaction volume and market capitalization signifies increased investor confidence. However, the mixed performance of indices indicates that investors remain cautious.

Eight Companies Yield High Profits

Several companies in the "B" category performed exceptionally well, delivering significant profits to their investors. The top-performing companies included S Alam Cold Rolled Steel, Shinepukur Ceramics, Golden Harvest, Intech Online, Fu-Wang Food, Far Chemical, Golden Son, and Sonargaon Textile.

Among these, S Alam Cold Rolled Steel led the gains, with a 57.14% increase in share price, followed by Shinepukur Ceramics at 27.83%, Golden Harvest at 18.58%, Intech Online at 15.71%, Fu-Wang Food at 14.93%, Far Chemical at 14.61%, Golden Son at 11.63%, and Sonargaon Textile at 11.11%.

Investors in S Alam Cold Rolled Steel benefited the most, as the share price continuously hit the highest ceiling throughout the week. Starting at BDT 9.80 at the beginning of the week, the stock closed at BDT 15.40 by the end of the week. Similarly, Shinepukur Ceramics and Golden Harvest stocks also hit the highest trading limits for three out of the five trading sessions.

Seven Companies Record Significant Losses

On the other hand, several companies witnessed a downturn, causing substantial losses for investors. The most affected stocks included Midland Bank, Tung Hai Knitting, Nurani Dyeing, RAK Ceramics, Apollo Ispat, VFS Thread, First Finance, Tallu Spinning, Energypac Power, and Peoples Leasing.

Of these, seven companies belong to the "Z" category, namely Tung Hai Knitting, Nurani Dyeing, Apollo Ispat, VFS Thread, First Finance, Tallu Spinning, and Peoples Leasing.

Tung Hai Knitting saw the steepest decline, with its share price dropping by nearly 14% over the week. Other stocks in the declining list fell between 8% and 12%, adding to investors' concerns. While these stocks had shown significant gains in January, recent losses have put investors under pressure, especially those who purchased shares at the beginning or mid-week.

Dividend Announcements from Two Companies

Two listed companies, Robi Axiata and Summit Power Limited, announced dividend distributions during the week.

Robi Axiata declared a 15% cash dividend for the financial year ending December 31, 2024. This marks an increase from the 10% cash dividend declared in the previous year. Following a board meeting, the company reviewed its audited financial statements and finalized the dividend announcement.

During an online press conference, Robi revealed that its profits more than doubled in 2024, reaching BDT 702 crore compared to BDT 320 crore in 2023. Earnings per share (EPS) for 2024 stood at BDT 1.34, reflecting a 119% year-on-year increase from BDT 0.61 in 2023. The company also reported a cash flow per share of BDT 8.83, compared to BDT 7.79 in the previous year.

Robi’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for April 21, with a record date set for March 16.

Summit Power Limited, meanwhile, announced a 10% cash dividend for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The board meeting also reviewed the company’s financial performance and approved the dividend payout.

Summit Power reported a consolidated EPS of BDT 3.13 for the year, up from BDT 2.07 in the previous year. The net asset value per share (NAVPS) stood at BDT 41.44 as of June 30, 2024.

Summit Power’s AGM is scheduled for April 13, with a record date set for March 10.