Investors' financial literacy key to stable stock market

Experts emphasized on investors' financial literacy to save their hard-earned investments along with gaining profits from the capital market.

They made the suggestions at a conference held Saturday as part of a move of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) to hold countrywide investors' education fair.

Investors will have to gain basic knowledge before making investments in the capital market, said BSEC chairman Prof Shibli Rubayat-Ul Islam.

He also said that investors will have to make decisions independently without paying heed to rumours.

Those who are afraid of high risks should invest in mutual funds and bonds, said the BSEC chairman.

In his speech, the state minister for ministry of cultural affairs KM Khalid has laid importance on investment safety.

"Investments are for financial relief and savings. So, security is important for investments," Mr. Khalid said.

The Mayor of the Mymensingh City Corporation Ekramul Haque Titu, the President of Mymensingh Chamber and Commerce Industry Aminul Haq Shamim, two BSEC Commissioners Dr Shaikh Shamsuddin Ahmed and Dr Rumana Islam, the former BSEC commissioner Arif Khan, the Joint-Secretary of Financial Institutions division Kamrul Haq Maruf, Divisional Commissioner of Mymensingh Md Shafiqur Reza Biswas, BSEC Executive Director Mohammad Rezaul Karim, among others, were present at the conference.

Meanwhile, the BSEC and the BASM organized the inaugural ceremony of the investors' education fair on Friday in the Mymensingh Town Hall.

At the ceremony, the BSEC Commissioner Shaikh Shamsuddin Ahmed said many investors were selling out their securities purchased with their hard earned money following rumours.

The news regarding shortage of fuel are rumours, Ahmed also said.

He said investors should not be excited while making any decision regarding making investments in the capital market.

"You should not pay heed to such rumours as the country has capacity of storing oil for 40 days or more and the oil is stored for 36 days," said the BSEC commissioner.

He said eight ships loaded with oil will arrive in August and that's why investors should not be panicked with rumours.

The securities regulator has been holding education fairs continuously across the country as there is no alternative to investment education, he added.