News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange rose with the All Share Index up 0.69% to 11,855 and the S&P SL20 up 1.45% to 3,459 on turnover of 2.6 billion; banking stocks led gains while there was a net foreign outflow of Rs 123 million.

ASPI rose 7.4% for the week, closing yesterday at 11,774 (up 102) as investor confidence returned amid declining government security yields. Capital goods and banks led turnover with Access Engineering, John Keells, Aitken Spence and HNB among top contributors; MGT gained 4.9% while Sampath dipped slightly.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index up 0.87% to 11,773 and S&P SL20 up 0.76% to 3,409, with turnover of 2.9 billion and net foreign inflow of 69 million rupees. Banking stocks led gains (HNB, Commercial Bank, DFCC, NDB) while some crossings and active foreign flows hit multiple counters.

Colombo market turnover topped Rs. 4 billion as the ASPI closed up 12 points at 11,672, marking an eighth consecutive day of gains. Banking stocks drove activity—contributing 39% of turnover with HNB, Sampath, NDB, Teejay Lanka and DFCC among top positive contributors, while Commercial Bank fell.

ASPI rose 326 points (2.87%) to 11,660, the biggest single-day gain in 14 months, as turnover hit Rs.4 billion and banks and blue-chip counters led a broad-based rally following the presidential election.

Colombo ASPI jumped 237.31 points (2.14%) — the largest daily gain in 2024 — on turnover of Rs.2 billion as banks and capital goods led gains; CCS rose 10.2% and Commercial Bank, HNB, Sampath, John Keells, Melstacorp, LOLC and Access Engineering were among top contributors.

ASPI rose 130 points (1.19%) to 11,097 on a late rally after the presidential election, led by banking and blue‑chip gains (Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank, Sampath Bank); turnover was Rs.994.4m and foreigners were net sellers by Rs.5.2m.

Colombo stocks rose ahead of the Presidential election as the ASPI gained 0.75% yesterday (up 2.7% WoW) and now shows a 2.93% YTD return, while the S&P SL20 rose 1.3% (4.1% WoW, 1.10% YTD). Banking stocks led the rally—Commercial Bank, Hatton National, NDB and Sampath were key movers—and turnover was driven by HNB, COMB and SAMP; foreigners were net sellers of Rs.12.1m.

Colombo market closed higher as the S&P SL20 rose 0.8% and the ASPI gained 0.5% with turnover of Rs. 1.22bn, led by the banking sector which contributed 45% of turnover and saw its sector index up 1.17%. Top positive contributors included Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, NDB, Browns Investments and John Keells; HNB, COMB, NTB and PABC recorded gains while Sampath slipped.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index +0.54% to 10,884 and S&P SL20 +0.81% to 3,061, led by bank stocks which generated Rs5,514mn of turnover. Total turnover was Rs1.2bn with a net foreign outflow of Rs38.96mn; top turnover names included HNB, Commercial Bank, Sampath and Nations Trust.

ASPI rose 1.34% to 10,826 and the S&P SL20 gained nearly 2% as banking counters led gains and accounted for 46% of turnover; top contributors included Sampath Bank, Hatton National Bank, John Keells, Aitken Spence and Hayleys.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index up 1.34% to 10,826 and S&P SL20 up 1.92% to 3,037, with bank stocks leading turnover (Rs424mn) and most banks rising. Net foreign outflow was Rs71mn; foreign buying seen in Ceylinco, Chevron Lubricants and Browns Investments while selling affected Commercial Bank, Access Engineering, Co-operative Insurance, Nations Trust and Sunshine.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon held an Agri Modernisation Fair in Vavuniya to promote smart agriculture and showcase technologies, with participation from Hayleys, AgStar, John Deere, DIMO, CIC and Browns. The event included lectures on economics of modern farming and practical drone demonstrations for input application.

ASPI closed at 10,683, up 116 points (1.1%) on the day, though ASPI and S&P SL20 fell 0.9% and 1.1% for the week. Banking and capital-goods counters led gains, turnover was Rs.1.2bn and foreign investors were net buyers of Rs.80.4m.

LOLC Group will make a Rs. 3 billion takeover bid for Sierra Cables after Browns Investments' Iconic Trust raised its stake to 30.42%, triggering the SEC Takeovers and Mergers Code. Browns Investments said it will make a mandatory offer to minority shareholders.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index up 1.10% to 10,683 and S&P SL20 up 1.86% to 2,979 on turnover of 1.2 billion, led by banks and blue-chips (notably HNB and JKH) and with a net foreign inflow of 80.39 million.

Colombo market closed modestly higher with the ASPI up 4 points to 10,575 and turnover of Rs.1.03 billion. Banking stocks made up 54% of turnover while Royal Ceramics, NDB and Asian Hotels & Properties led gains and Commercial Bank, Nations Trust Bank and Sierra Cables fell.

The ASPI fell 0.65% to 10,571, taking its YTD return to -0.78%. Declines in Commercial Bank, John Keells, Sampath and HNB led the drop; turnover was Rs.1bn (up 46.9% vs monthly average) and foreign investors were net buyers of Rs.131.1m.

ASPI fell 0.65% to 10,571, pushing its YTD return to -0.78% — the first YTD negative for 2024. Banking and blue-chip counters (Commercial Bank, John Keells, Sampath, HNB, DFCC) led declines; turnover was Rs.1bn (up 46.9% vs monthly avg) and foreigners net bought Rs.131.1m.

Colombo market fell as S&P SL20 dropped 1.77% and ASPI declined 1% with turnover of Rs. 1.23 billion and net foreign inflow of Rs. 44.8 million. Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank, Ceylon Tobacco Company, Sampath Bank and Royal Ceramics were the top negative contributors.

ASPI fell 0.3% to close at 10,801 as turnover was Rs.1.5 billion; indices reversed gains after a short-lived rebound. Melstacorp, Hemas, DFCC, LOLC and John Keells were among the top negative contributors while Hatton National Bank gained and Commercial Bank was flat.

Colombo market rebounded, ending a 12-day losing run as the ASPI rose 1.5% (164 points) with turnover of Rs. 1.46bn; banking counters and index heavyweights such as Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, Melstacorp, CTC and Hayleys were top contributors.

Colombo bourse continued its negative run as election uncertainty pushed both indices down over 0.4%, with market capitalisation at Rs. 4.23 trillion (0.4% YTD decline) and turnover of Rs. 1.1 billion. Notable moves: CTC down Rs.46.50 to Rs.1,163.50, Commercial Bank down Rs.1 to Rs.83.70, HNB down Rs.1.50 to Rs.163.50 and JKH down 50c to Rs.167; retail interest seen in Browns Investments and LOLC Finance.

The ASPI fell 1.4% to a six-month low of 10,720 and the S&P SL20 declined 1.7% as election uncertainty weighed on the market. Banking counters and heavyweights including Commercial Bank, HNB, Sampath, John Keells and Hayleys led losses while foreigners were net sellers.

ASPI fell 4.7% and the S&P SL20 lost 6.3% last week amid election-related bearishness, with banking and blue-chip counters (HNB, JKH, CTC, RICH, VFIN) dragging the market; Renuka Agri Foods saw a large off-board block and price rise.