Macro
Exports in Jan up 7% to $4.5b YoY
The country’s merchandise exports grew by over 7% to $4.5 billion in January, compared to $4.2 billion in the same month a year ago, driven largely by an increase in shipments of ready-made garments. With this, export earnings surpassed $29 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, reflecting growth of over 12%, according to provisional data from the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/exports-jan-7-45b-yoy-1059266

Banks’ deposit, lending rates likely to follow suit
The yields on treasury bills (T-bills) dropped below 11 per cent on Sunday, showing signs of a fall in banks’ deposit and lending rates in the near future, market insiders said. The interest rates on the T-bills fell below the level after more than one year as the banks expressed willingness to invest their excess liquidity in short-term securities.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/last-page/banks-deposit-lending-rates-likely-to-follow-suit-1738519944

Remittances grow 3% in January
Remittances grew 3 percent year-on-year to $2.18 billion in January 2025 and this happened at a time when Bangladesh Bank imposed a ceiling on banks for remittance collection. As a result, total remittances in the July-January period of the 2024-25 fiscal year rose 24 percent year-on-year to $15.96 billion, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bank today.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/remittances-grow-3-january-3814401

China-aided seaport dev project gets all-clear
A major project gets finally gets the go-ahead to expand and modernise Mongla seaport with enhanced container-handling capacity under a plan to upgrade it to a regional shipping hub. The Mongla Port Authority, under the Ministry of Shipping, will implement the project by December 2028 at a total cost of over 4.07 billion that includes a loan of about Tk 3.56 billion.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/china-aided-seaport-dev-project-gets-all-clear-1738519570

Banking
Regulatory policy skewed towards govt banks on exchange rate
Regulatory policy on remittance netting is allegedly skewed towards public banks on exchange rate as private bankers are bound within the fixed upper ceiling while the government lenders offering higher rates. Bangladesh Bank (BB) is now favouring the state-owned commercial banks for collection of more remittances even bypassing the upper ceiling of the existing managed floating exchange rate, bankers and officials said.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/regulatory-policy-skewed-towards-govt-banks-on-exchange-rate-1738519507

Fuel & Power
BERC raises LPG prices
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has increased the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for a mass-used 12-kg LPG cylinder by Tk 19 to Tk 1,478 from previous Tk 1,459. The new price for February trading has come into effect from Sunday.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/metro-news/berc-raises-lpg-prices-1738519267

Food & Allied
Olympic Industries to invest Tk17cr in land for expansion
Olympic Industries will purchase six pieces of land spanning 273 decimals adjacent to its factory in Lolati, Narayanganj, for Tk17 crore to facilitate future expansion, according to a stock exchange filing.
The leading branded biscuit manufacturer will cover all registration costs, including VAT, taxes, and other charges.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/olympic-industries-invest-tk17cr-land-expansion-1059276

Stocks
DESCO returns to profit in Q2, on higher distribution revenue
Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) returned to profit in the second quarter of FY25 as its distribution revenue escalated 115 per cent year-on-year to Tk 2.23 billion during the period. DESCO earned Tk 261.68 million in October-December last year while it had a loss of Tk 434.66 million during the same quarter a year earlier.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/stock-corporate/desco-returns-to-profit-in-q2-on-higher-distribution-revenue-1738512458

Crown Cement’s profit plunges 48% in Q2
Crown Cement’s profit fell in the second quarter of the 2024-25 fiscal year despite registering higher revenue. The cement producer’s profit declined 48 percent year-on-year to Tk 18.85 crore in the quarter.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/crown-cements-profit-plunges-48-q2-3814311

Square Textiles’ profit jumps 53% in Q2
Square Textiles reported a 53 percent year-on-year growth in profit for the second quarter of the 2024-25 fiscal year, driven by increased yarn production. The company posted a profit of Tk 38.13 crore in the second quarter. Despite the strong earnings report, shares of Square Textiles declined by 0.59 percent to Tk 50.20 in mid-day trading at the Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/square-textiles-profit-jumps-53-q2-3814181

United Power secures higher profit after bulk electricity tariff hike
United Power Generation & Distribution Company secured a 5 per cent year-on-year growth in profit to Tk 2.92 billion in the second quarter of FY25, driven by higher revenue amid bulk power tariff hike. The power generation company’s consolidated earnings per share (EPS) stood at Tk 4.98 in the second quarter, up from Tk 4.71 in the same quarter a year ago, according to its un-audited financial statements.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/stock-corporate/united-power-secures-higher-profit-after-bulk-electricity-tariff-hike-1738512423

Two listed PRAN-RFL firms post revenue, profit growth in H1
Two listed companies of PRAN-RFL Group achieved growth in both revenue and profit during the July-December period of FY25. The companies are Agricultural Marketing Company Limited and Rangpur Foundry Limited. Rangpur Foundry specialises in producing cast iron products, including tube-wells and irrigation pumps, while Agricultural Marketing Company is engaged in the trading and processing of fruits, vegetables, and other agro-based products.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/two-listed-pran-rfl-firms-post-revenue-profit-growth-h1-1059236