News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 1.07% to 14,810 and turnover hit Rs9.23bn, the highest since Feb 7. Top contributors included Central Finance, Ceylon Cold Stores, Melstacorp, Access Engineering and Chevron Lubricants; net foreign outflow was Rs226m.

Brown & Company PLC and Browns Investments PLC appointed Chitral Wijesinha as Independent Non-Executive Director effective 1 January 2025. He brings over 27 years' financial services experience including treasury, investment and retirement planning and has held senior roles such as Country Treasurer at Citibank Sri Lanka.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher — ASPI +0.11% at 14,516.46 and S&P SL20 +0.80% at 4,384.75, with turnover of 6.35 billion. Top contributors included John Keells, Commercial Bank, NDB, Cargills and Lanka IOC; net foreign inflow was Rs 336 million and there was notable activity in banking, consumer and hotel stocks.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.41% to 13,774, led by gains in diversified financials and capital goods with top contributors including Browns Investments, John Keells, LOLC Finance and Ceylon Tobacco. Turnover was Rs4.3bn and Abans's Rs300mn debenture issue was oversubscribed.

Colombo bourse ended the week mixed: ASPI rose 24 points (+0.19%) while the S&P SL20 fell over 12 points (-0.3%) on Rs.3.7bn turnover and a net foreign outflow of Rs.381.9m. Key contributors included AHUN, LLUB, SAMP and BIL, with consumer services leading turnover and banks and hotels drawing investor interest.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed mixed: ASPI up 0.19% at 13,188 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.32% to 3,905; turnover was Rs3.7bn. Hotels drew investor interest after tourist arrivals topped 1.7 million, with Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings, Aitken Spence, Sampath Bank and Browns Investments among top contributors.

Bank-led rally lifted the ASPI 0.66% as the banking sector drove 63% of turnover with top contributors including Sampath Bank, Hatton National Bank, Richard Pieris, Dipped Products and DFCC. Turnover was Rs.3.6bn and there was a net foreign outflow of Rs.119.7m.

Phantom Investments (Rayynor Silva) bought a 9.75% stake in DFCC Bank (42.2m shares) for Rs.3.58bn at Rs.85/share. The shares were sold by LOLC Investment Holdings; Rayynor, who earlier took ~10% of Sampath Bank, said the DFCC investment is strategic and long term.

Colombo market fell with the ASPI down 1% and S&P SL20 down 1.5% on Rs.7.04bn turnover and a net foreign outflow of Rs.211.6m. Banks led turnover (65%) with DFCC and CDB among gainers while JKH, Commercial Bank, Sampath and Browns were top negative contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down: ASPI fell 1.00% to 12,982 and S&P SL20 fell 1.49% to 3,860, with turnover Rs7bn led by banks and a net foreign outflow of Rs211mn. Top negative contributors included John Keells, Commercial Bank, Sampath and Browns, while DFCC and CDB were top turnover generators.

Colombo market showed a muted response to the NPP landslide, with the ASPI up 0.2% and the S&P SL20 up 0.08% on turnover of Rs.5.5bn; the banking sector led turnover while foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.761.2m.

Colombo stock market ended the shortened General Election week higher, with ASPI up 3.1% and the S&P SL20 up 3.8% and average weekly turnover of Rs.4.37 billion. Banking counters (Sampath, Commercial Bank, DFCC, Nations Trust, Pan Asia) led gains and turnover, while Browns Investments and several hotels and finance stocks saw notable investor interest.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher on Nov 14: ASPI +0.56% to 13,198 and S&P SL20 +1.23% to 3,986, with turnover Rs3.7bn. Most activity was in banking stocks (Rs1.6bn); top contributors were Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank, DFCC Bank, Nations Trust Bank and Browns Investments.

Colombo market extended its pre-election rally as the ASPI gained 136 pts to 13,125 and the S&P SL20 neared 4,000 on turnover of Rs.7bn. Banking stocks led the advance (Sampath, DFCC, NDB, NTB, JKH, LOLC, MELS, CTHR among contributors) and several firms (ASIY, GRAN, TAFL, GLAS) announced interim dividends.

Colombo's ASPI briefly touched 13,000 while turnover rose to Rs. 4.3 billion as markets rallied ahead of parliamentary elections. The banking sector led turnover and counters such as John Keells, Richard Pieris, C T Holdings, Bukit Darah and DFCC were among top contributors.

Sri Lanka unveiled a sustainability-focused tourism strategy at WTM 2024, noting a 46% year-over-year rise in UK arrivals. SriLankan Airlines and hospitality partners committed to expanding direct flights and promotional activity to further boost UK visitor growth.

Colombo market closed in red with the ASPI down 59 points to 12,796 on turnover of Rs.2.38bn. Banking led turnover (60%) as HNB, Sampath, Pan Asia and Commercial Bank were key movers; John Keells and Digital Mobility Solutions declared interim dividends.

ASPI rose 0.7% to 12,610 (a 32-month high) as turnover hit Rs.4.4bn, led by the banking sector which contributed 36% of turnover. HNB, Sampath, NDB, LOLC, Browns and MELS were top contributors while JKH fell modestly and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.12.2m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: ASPI +0.74% to 12,610 and S&P SL20 +0.84% to 3,790, with turnover Rs4.4bn; Hatton National Bank accounted for Rs926m of turnover and there was a net foreign outflow of Rs12.21m.

ASPI closed down 4 points at 12,309 while S&P SL20 rose 2 points, with turnover of Rs.1.5 billion and foreign investors net selling Rs.109.4 million. ACL, UAL and HELA were among gainers while CFIN, LMF, LIOC, HAYL, RCL and SPEN were notable losers; Capital Goods led turnover.

The ASPI closed the week up 0.2% at 12,313 (23-point gain) while the S&P SL20 fell 0.5%, with market turnover averaging Rs. 1.75 billion. Diversified financials led turnover and there was positive investor interest in plantation names (BALA, AGPL), LB Finance, Lankem, C T Holdings, Central Finance, HNB and Digital Mobility (PKME).

Colombo Stock Exchange rebounded as the ASPI rose 0.27% to 12,290 on turnover of about Rs.1.75 billion, driven by gains in hotel counters and select plantation and telecom stocks.

Colombo market closed lower with the S&P SL20 down 0.7% and ASPI down 0.4%, while foreigners were net buyers of Rs.153.6m. Banks (e.g. Commercial Bank, Sampath) dragged indices, while Balangoda Plantations, John Keells and Hayleys Fabric led turnover with mixed price moves.

Colombo market closed the week higher with the ASPI up 1.07% on Friday (ASPI +2% for the week) and S&P SL20 +1.10%, with turnover at Rs.2.3bn. Banking stocks (Commercial Bank, HNB), renewed interest in plantation names (KAHA, HAPU, UDPL, MASK) and strong foreign buying in JKH drove activity.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up as the All Share Index rose 1.07% to 12,294, led by banks with total turnover of Rs2.3bn and Rs563mn in bank trades. Top contributors included Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, Lanka IOC and Browns Investments, and net foreign inflow was Rs107mn.

Colombo's ASPI rose about 6 points to 12,171 as turnover was Rs.1.4bn, led by Commercial Bank, Hayleys and John Keells. Hayleys (+4.5%) and John Keells (+2.5%) were major index movers while banking counters saw profit-taking (Sampath down) and foreigners net sold Rs.21.4m.

Colombo market rose as ASPI gained 0.9% (111 points) to 12,165, a three-month high, with turnover of Rs.2.77 bn led by banking stocks; S&P SL20 rose 1.3% and top contributors included CTHR, SAMP, HNB, JKH and COMB.

Colombo's ASPI fell 4 points to 11,930 as the market stayed bearish, with S&P SL20 down 26 points (0.7%), turnover Rs.1.3bn and net foreign outflow of Rs.18m. Major negatives were HNB, SAMP, COMB, HAYL and JKH while CINS and PKME (PickMe) were among gainers; Commercial Credit and Lankem also rose.

Colombo market cooled after 11 straight gains as the ASPI fell about 59 points (0.5%) on turnover of Rs.2.3bn, with banks contributing 59% of turnover. Sampath, Commercial and Hatton National rose, while Vallibel One and Nations Trust fell; JKH, LOLC, NDB, Hayleys and DFCC weighed on the index.