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DHAKA (AFP) – Bangladesh will offload stakes in dozens of state-owned enterprises as part of a major government effort to cool down the country's overheated stock exchange, its finance minister said Monday.
Eight state-owned firms, including major energy and power firms, which are already listed will be made to sell more shares, while 24 wholly state-owned firms will be taken public this year, A.M.A. Muhith told AFP Monday.
The moves aim to help the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) soak up excess demand for stocks, which analysts say has pushed valuations to unsustainable levels.
Muhith said the government has eased rules for issuing new shares to encourage the 24 state-owned companies to list.
The DSE, which is up 70 percent since the start of the year, crossed the record 8,000-point mark during trading on Sunday before falling 12 points to close at 7,988 on profit taking. It closed at 7,974 on Monday.
Titas, the country's largest gas distribution company, electricity giant Desco, mobile phone company Teletalk and national flag carrier Biman Air top the list of companies to be listed this year, the DSE said.