Stocks
Asian Markets Slide Amid Concerns Over Prolonged High Interest Rates
Asian markets experienced a decline on Tuesday, driven by concerns about interest rates following hawkish remarks made by a senior Federal Reserve official, signaling that the central bank was likely to maintain higher rates for an extended period.
Despite a significant drop in the past year, inflation in the United States continues to remain stubbornly above the Federal Reserve’s long-term target of two percent. This has led the majority of Fed officials to predict the necessity of another rate hike later this year.
Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision, Michael Barr, conveyed his expectation at a conference in New York on Monday that interest rates would need to be kept at a “sufficiently restrictive level” for an extended period to control inflation. Barr’s comments align with the views of most of his colleagues, who recently lowered their expectations for the number of rate cuts in 2024, indicating an extended period of elevated rates.
Since March 2022, the Fed has increased its key lending rate 11 times, reaching a 22-year high. With inflation persistently exceeding its target, there is a consensus that “the Fed is gonna keep rates high and we are expecting higher rates for longer,” as noted by Xi Qiao, Managing Director for Wealth Management at UBS, in an interview with Bloomberg Television. However, this could potentially bring caution to the equity markets.
On Wall Street, trading ended with mixed results after a congressional deal was reached to avert an immediate US government shutdown. However, bond markets experienced a significant sell-off.
Stephen Innes from SPI Asset Management commented on the situation, stating, “Any ‘relief rally’ from the US government spending deal appears to have been short-lived as bond markets witnessed a deepening selloff, leading to rising yields across the curve.”
The yields on US Treasury bonds, especially the 10-year and 30-year bonds, remained notably high, reaching levels not seen in years. These Treasury bond yields are closely monitored as indicators of US interest rates.
Innes explained, “This yield surge reflects the market’s response to messaging from the Federal Reserve, indicating the central bank’s commitment to keeping borrowing costs elevated to combat inflation.”
Hong Kong led the decline in Asian equities on Tuesday, falling by nearly three percent as the market resumed trading following a holiday weekend. In contrast, the heavily indebted Chinese property giant, Evergrande, witnessed a stock price increase as it resumed trading in Hong Kong, days after its CEO was announced to be under criminal investigation.
Other Asian markets, including Tokyo, Sydney, Wellington, Singapore, Manila, and Bangkok, also saw declines, while Taipei and Jakarta remained relatively flat. Kuala Lumpur was the only market to register gains.
Dhaka Stock Exchange DSE, Bourse on the last working day of the week, 16th May, ended with a drop in Indices and hike in Turnover from the previous working session. This information is known from DSE sources.
676 crore 79 lakh taka shares were traded on this day. 150 crore 46 lakh more tradings were done in DSE today compared to the previous workday, 15th May , Shares worth Tk 526 crores 33 lakh shares were traded last time, Wednesday.
The benchmark DSEX lost 9.98 points or 5,517 The Shariah-based index DSES dropped 0.80 points or 1,212, and the blue-chip index DS30 decreased by 3.79 points or 1,973.
Of the issues traded, 122 advanced, 215 declined and 57 remained unchanged.
MBL 1st Mutual Fund ranked top gainer on DSE, the share price increased by Tk 0.50 paisa or 10 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 5.50 paisa.
Sonali Paper & Board Mills Limited ranked top loser on the DSE, the share price dropped by Tk 11.80 paisa or 3.00 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 382.50 paisa.
DSE topped on trade is Asiatic Laboratories Limited 46 crore 23 lakh takas of company shares have been traded.
A total of 43 companies’ shares were traded in the Block on Dhaka Stock Exchange. A total of 3 crore 22 lakh 1 thousand 792 shares of the companies were traded. The financial value of which is 49 crore 85 lakh taka
Dhaka Stock Exchange DSE, Bourse on the fourth working day of the week, 15th May, ended with a drop in Indices and Turnover from the previous working session. This information is known from DSE sources.
526 crore 33 lakh taka shares were traded on this day. 138 crore 3 lakh less tradings were done in DSE today compared to the previous workday, 14th May , Shares worth Tk 664 crores 36 lakh shares were traded last time, Tuesday.
The benchmark DSEX lost 58.22 points or 5,527 The Shariah-based index DSES dropped 12.79 points or 1,212, and the blue-chip index DS30 decreased by 14.14 points or 1,977.
Of the issues traded, 61 advanced, 301 declined and 33 remained unchanged.
Reliance One the first scheme of Reliance Insurance Mutual Fund ranked top gainer on DSE, the share price increased by Tk 1.50 paisa or 8.77 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 18.60 paisa.
Bay Leasing & Investment Limited ranked top loser on the DSE, the share price dropped by Tk 0.30 paisa or 3.00 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 9.70 paisa.
DSE topped on trade is Alif Industries Limited 19 crore 21 lakh takas of company shares have been traded.
A total of 45 companies’ shares were traded in the Block on Dhaka Stock Exchange. A total of 68 lakh 31 thousand 91 shares of the companies were traded. The financial value of which is 37 crore 38 lakh taka
Dhaka Stock Exchange DSE, Bourse on the third working day of the week, 14th May, ended with a drop in Indices and Turnover from the previous working session. This information is known from DSE sources.
664 crore 36 lakh taka shares were traded on this day. 17 crore 86 lakh less tradings were done in DSE today compared to the previous workday, 9th May , Shares worth Tk 968 crores 2 lakh shares were traded last time, Monday.
The benchmark DSEX lost 81.14 points or 5,585 The Shariah-based index DSES dropped 15.76 points or 1,225, and the blue-chip index DS30 decreased by 26.04 points or 1,991.
Of the issues traded, 31 advanced, 343 declined and 25 remained unchanged.
Reliance One the first scheme of Reliance Insurance Mutual Fund ranked top gainer on DSE, the share price increased by Tk 1.50 paisa or 9.55 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 17.10 paisa.
Union Insurance Company Limited ranked top loser on the DSE, the share price dropped by Tk 4.00 paisa or 9.32 percent. On this day, the share was last traded at Tk 38.90 paisa.
DSE topped on trade is eGeneration Limited 28 crore 18 lakh takas of company shares have been traded.
A total of 45 companies’ shares were traded in the Block on Dhaka Stock Exchange. A total of 74 lakh 95 thousand 900 shares of the companies were traded. The financial value of which is 34 crore 92 lakh taka
