Treasury bills, bonds: Secondary trading slips by 62pc in FY ‘18
Secondary trading of treasury bills and treasury bonds has dropped sharply during the last fiscal year, reflecting the lower demand for the government securities. Latest statistics with the central bank showed that the total value of secondary trading of T-bills and T-bonds stood at Tk 153.30 billion during FY18, down from Tk 400.51 billion a year earlier. The transaction of these tradable government securities is generally divided into two types — outright transaction and repo transaction. Currently, there are three types of T-bills in terms of maturity. These are: 91 days, 182 days and 364 days. T-bonds are matured in two years, five years, 10 years, 15 years and 20 years. Bangladesh Bank statistics also showed that the total value of secondary trading of bills and bonds was Tk 675.31 billion in FY16. Primary issuance of T-bills and T-bonds stood at Tk 706.12 billion in FY17, which was Tk 861.18 billion in FY16. Central bank statistics showed that primary issuance of T-bills and T-bonds stood at Tk 227.0 billion in the first four months (July-October) of FY18. The central bank said that OTC trading dropped to Tk 325.28 billion in FY17 from Tk 675.13 billion in FY16. On the other hand, there was almost no TWS trading in FY16, which stood at Tk 75.29 billion in FY17. Currently, 21 banks are performing as primary dealers and can participate directly in the primary auctions.
Source: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/bangladesh/secondary-trading-slips-by-62pc-in-fy-18-1531628982
Stocks begin week on negative note
Stocks extended losses for the second straight session on Sunday as investors continued on selling shares. However, daily trade turnover exceeded Tk 9.0 billion-mark and stood at Tk 9.55 billion on the country’s premier bourse once again against Tk 8.52 billion in the previous day. At the end of the session DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went down by 22.15 points or 0.41 per cent to settle at 5,336. The non-bank financial institutions sector saw the highest correction of 1.50 per cent, followed by telecom with 1.40 per cent and banking 1.30 per cent. Two other indices also ended lower with the DS30 index, comprising blue chips, losing 11.62 points to settle at 1,895 and the DSE Shariah Index lost 1.51 points to close at 1,265. Of the total 339 issues traded on the DSE trading floor, 207 declined, 109 advanced and 23 issues remained unchanged. The port city bourse CSE also ended lower with its CSE All Share Price Index – CASPI – shedding 61 points to settle at 16,452 and the Selective Categories Index – CSCX – losing 38 points to finish at 9,955.
Source:
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/stock/bangladesh/stocks-begin-week-on-negative-note-1531662434
http://www.newagebd.net/article/46124/stocks-drop-for-2nd-day-as-banking-scrips-continue-to-fall
EBL to invest Tk 293cr to open branches in India
The board of director of Eastern Bank Limited has decided to open its wing in India, which would require around Tk 293 crore in investment for the bank, according to an EBL statement published on the Dhaka Stock Exchange web site on Sunday. EBL said that its board decided and accorded approval of $25 million required as regulatory capital and allocated additional $10 million on need basis for establishing full-fledged branches in India. Besides the approval, EBL also authorised its management to apply to Bangladesh Bank for obtaining necessary permission in this regard and also to liaise with PWC Private Limited (India) for obtaining necessary permission from the Reserve Bank of India. Earlier, in June, 2017, EBL had informed the DSE that its board decided to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers, Kolkata for ground support of getting the required approval for licence from the Reserve Bank of India to open and set up EBL branches at Kolkata, West Bengal and at Guwahati, Assam in India.
Source: http://www.newagebd.net/article/46125/ebl-to-invest-tk-293cr-to-open-branches-in-india
Service trade gap crosses $4 billion in 11 months
The country’s deficit in service trade with the rest of the world crossed $4.0 billion-level in the first 11 months of the past fiscal year. Statistics released by the central bank showed that gap in services trade stood at $4.08 billion in July-May period of FY18, which was $3.0 billion in the same period of FY17. It also showed that receipt from service export registered 22.37 per cent growth in the first 11 months of the past fiscal year over the same period of the previous fiscal year. Service exports fetched $4.12 billion in revenues in July-May period of the past fiscal year, which was $3.37 billion in the same period of FY17. Payments for importing services in the first 11 months of FY18 stood at $8.20 billion, recording 28.73 per cent growth over the same period of FY17 when it was $6.37 billion.
Source: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/service-trade-gap-crosses-4-billion-in-11-months-1531641273
BD’s position drops in global innovation index
The position of Bangladesh in the latest global index of innovation has dropped by two steps. The country ranked 116th among 126 countries in the Global Innovation Index (GII)-2018 which is co-published by Cornell University, INSEAD and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). In the last index, released in 2017, Bangladesh was ranked 114th among 127 countries. This year Bangladesh is also positioned as the bottom ranked country in South Asia. India ranked as 57th, a moderate improvement from 60th position in the last year while ranking of Pakistan also improved from 113rd to 109th. Sri Lanka ranked 88th while Nepal positioned as 108th innovative country in the world this year. Switzerland retained its number-one spot in the index followed by the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Singapore, United States of America, Finland, Denmark, Germany and Ireland. China broke into the world’s top 20 most-innovative economies for the first time as it ranked 17th in the latest GII.
Source: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/bangladesh/bds-position-drops-in-global-innovation-index-1531651086
Roadshows to draw foreign funds in hi-tech parks
Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority is set to organise roadshows in different cities around the world from September to attract foreign investors, including non-resident Bangladeshis. The decision was taken yesterday at a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry of posts, telecommunication and information technology. BHTPA plans to organise three separate programmes, including seminars and other activities, aiming to promote the three hi-tech parks. Sylhet Electronic City will be the first to be completed, so it will be promoted first. Sylhet Electronic City, which is being built at a cost of Tk 187.13 crore on 162 acres of land, is scheduled for completion this December. About 50,000 new jobs will be created at the park, according to government estimates. The park authority is also developing the country’s first hi-tech park, the Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City, in Gazipur’s Kaliakoir on 355 acres of land. BHTPA is also developing the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park in Rajshahi for Tk 238.25 crore. Construction work for the 10-storied multipurpose building is already on way.
Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/roadshows-draw-foreign-funds-hi-tech-parks-1606090
‘BD to get LDC trade facilities until 2029’
Commerce Minister has said Bangladesh will get trade facilities as a least developed country (LDC) until 2029. The minister said this while addressing the National Export Trophy 2014-15 distribution ceremony on Sunday. A total of 63 companies were awarded trophies for their extraordinary contributions to the country’s export sector in the fiscal year 2014-15. “After graduation from the LDC, we will go for Free Trade Agreements with other countries. By 2021, our export will cross US$60 billion and we will work to achieve the goal,” the Minister said.
Source: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/bd-to-get-ldc-trade-facilities-until-2029-1531657007
MNP likely to cost mobile cos Tk 150-170 for each customer
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has endorsed an Infozillion BD-Teletech Consortium proposal to charge mobile phone operators along with taking fees from customers for mobile network portability service. The BTRC has already put forward a proposal in this regard to the posts and telecommunications ministry for approval. The MNP service will allow subscribers to change their mobile network (operator) by keeping their existing numbers. Under the BTRC proposal, a mobile phone operator will have to pay Tk 150-170 as charge to Infozillion for receiving each MNP customer from other operators. The charge, however, would be finalised after getting approval from the telecom ministry. On the other hand, the charge to be paid by each customer for changing operator under the MNP service will remain unchanged at Tk 30.
Source: http://www.newagebd.net/article/46122/mnp-likely-to-cost-mobile-cos-tk-150-170-for-each-customer
Jan-Jun mobile subscriber growth slows
The growth of active mobile phone subscribers slowed in the first half (January-June) of this year compared with that in the same period of last year. As per the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission data, the number of active mobile phone subscribers grew by 58.31 lakh to 15.09 crore at the end of June, 2018 from 14.51 crore at the end of December, 2017. On the other hand, the number of active mobile phone users increased by 95.91 lakh to 13.60 crore at the end of June last year from 12.64 crore at the end of December, 2016. Of the mobile phone operators, Grameenphone attained highest — 38.43 lakh — new subscribers with its subscriber base increasing to 6.91 crore at the end of June this year from 6.53 crore at the end of December, 2017. GP had added 36.25 lakh users in the first half of 2017. The number of active subscribers of Robi grew by 18.21 lakh to 4.47 crore at the end of June, 2018 from 4.29 crore six month ago.
Source: http://www.newagebd.net/article/46123/jan-jun-mobile-subscriber-growth-slows
Local and Global Stock Indices *
Index Name | Close Value | Value Change | Percentage Change |
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DSEX | 5,336.75 | ↓22.16 | ↓0.41% |
DJIA | 25,019.41 | NO Transaction | – |
FTSE100 | 7,661.87 | NO Transaction | – |
Nikkei 225 | 22,597.35 | NO Transaction | – |
World Commodities *
Commodity | Close Value | Value Change | Percentage Change |
---|
Crude Oil (WTI) | $70.63 | ↓0.38 | ↓0.54% |
Crude Oil (Brent) | $74.91 | ↓0.42 | ↓0.56% |
Gold Spot | $1,243.25 | ↓1.07 | ↓0.09% |
Major Currencies Exchange Rates Movement in Last Seven Days *
Exchange Rates |
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USD 1 | BDT 83.76 |
GBP 1 | BDT 110.88 |
EUR 1 | BDT 97.86 |
INR 1 | BDT 1.22 |
*CURRENCIES AND COMMODITIES ARE TAKEN FROM BLOOMBERG.