News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up: ASPI +0.47% to 12,357 and S&P SL20 +0.95% to 3,663, with turnover Rs 2.3bn. Top turnover stocks included John Keells (JKH 203.00), Sampath (84.00), Commercial Bank (110.25), Hayleys (103.00) and Hemas (81.00); net foreign inflow was Rs 118m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed mixed: ASPI fell 0.08% to 12,300 while S&P SL20 rose 0.11% to 3,628, with turnover Rs1.9bn and a net foreign inflow of Rs37m. Top contributors included John Keells, Lion Brewery, Sampath Bank, HNB and Central Finance.

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.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) launched Host-to-Host (H2H) payment services for corporate clients to integrate ERP systems and automate high-volume payments and reconciliations. The solution supports major ERPs (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Odoo), XML/CSV formats and real-time processing.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon plans to raise Rs.5 billion via a green bond on the Colombo Stock Exchange in September 2024 with support from GGGI. GGGI is also assisting Sri Lanka on sovereign green bond frameworks, Article 6 carbon-market readiness, e-mobility and tea-industry sustainability.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index +0.18% to 12,313 and S&P SL20 +0.26% to 3,622, with turnover Rs1.9bn. Renewed investor interest in leasing/finance on a possible vehicle import ban reversal and positive results/crossings at L B Finance and CDB; net foreign outflow Rs87mn.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon launched Host-to-Host (H2H) payment services for corporate clients to integrate ERPs for automated, secure bulk payments and reconciliations, enabling real-time processing and support for major ERP platforms.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index +0.27% to 12,290 and S&P SL20 +0.17% to 3,613 on turnover of Rs 1.7 billion. Top movers included Dialog, Digital Mobility, Dipped Products, Maskeliya and Hemas, with net foreign outflow of Rs 317 million and mixed foreign buying/selling across counters.

Colombo market was mixed as the ASPI rose 0.09% to 12,258 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.20%; turnover was about Rs.1.85–1.9 billion and foreigners were net buyers of Rs.139.7 million, led by net foreign buying in John Keells (Rs.240.9m) and net selling in Dialog.

Acuity forecasts 20–40% upside for listed commercial banks (COMB.N0000, HNB.N0000, SAMP.N0000, NTB.N0000) from ISB restructuring, expecting provision writebacks of c.12–15%. The report anticipates the bond exchange in ~2–3 months and estimates NAV gains of ~Rs.50 for HNB and ~Rs.20 for COMB.

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 Stock Exchange closed mixed: ASPI rose 0.09% to 12,257 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.20% to 3,607, with turnover of 1.8 billion and a net foreign inflow of 139 million rupees. Top turnover stocks included John Keells, Citrus Leisure, Dialog and Commercial Bank, with foreign buying noted in JKH, Commercial Bank, Sampath, Citrus Leisure and Windforce.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon pledged support to Biodiversity Sri Lanka's five-year project to conserve the 953-hectare Kayankerni marine sanctuary, supporting restoration, community engagement and baseline monitoring.

A new Fintech Forum Sri Lanka has launched to unite fintechs, banks and regulators to promote digital financial services, chaired by LankaPay CEO Channa de Silva; the board includes executives from LOLC Finance, Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank and Dialog Finance. The forum will work with the Central Bank, ADB and BOI on policy, compliance, membership and international outreach.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell as the ASPI dropped 0.39% to 12,246 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.71% to 3,614, with banks (C T Holdings, HNB, Commercial Bank, Sampath, NDB) weighing on the index. Turnover was Rs1.4bn and there was a net foreign inflow of Rs153mn; Sri Lanka Telecom and Hayleys Fabric were among gainers.

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.

The Clearing Association of Bankers held its 12th AGM on 4 October at HNB Towers; Sampath Bank’s Nalin Liyanage was elected CAB President for 2024/2025. Representatives from multiple commercial banks attended and Prompt Xpress served as the platinum sponsor.

Colombo Bourse closed marginally higher (ASPI +12) with net foreign inflows of Rs.267m, led by strong foreign buying in John Keells (JKH: net +Rs.132.7m; JKH up Rs.4.50 to Rs.198.25). Turnover was Rs.1.6bn; capital goods (via JKH), banking and F&B were top turnover contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index +0.10% to 12,164 and S&P SL20 +0.20% to 3,600, turnover Rs1.5bn and net foreign inflow Rs267m. Top turnover included John Keells, Hayleys, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank and Nations Trust; top foreign flows varied across names.

Colombo bourse saw net foreign inflows of Rs. 339.1 mn while the ASPI fell 19 points on turnover of Rs. 2.1 bn. John Keells drew the most foreign buying and led turnover, banks (Sampath, DFCC) weighed on the index and AGPL rose 9.8% after a dividend.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon appointed Yohan Perera as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Perera is a Chartered Accountant who retired as Managing Partner of KPMG Sri Lanka and Maldives and has over 40 years' experience in audits and corporate governance.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon signed an MoU with Capital Trust Properties to refer prospective buyers to the bank and provide bespoke home loans for multiple condominium projects. The bank's home loans portfolio was Rs 72.965 billion as at 31 March 2024.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down, the All Share Index fell 0.16% to 12,152 with turnover Rs 2.1bn and a net foreign outflow of Rs 339m; top foreign buying included Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, ACL Cables, Melstacorp and Elpitiya Plantations, and Agarapatana Plantations suspended trading after announcing a Rs1 dividend.

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 Stock Exchange closed up, with the All Share Index rising 0.05% to 12,171 and the S&P SL20 up 0.14% to 3,595. Turnover was 1.3 billion, top turnover generators included Commercial Bank, Hayleys, John Keells and Sampath Bank, and there was a net foreign outflow of 21 million rupees.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon pledged to fund planting of 3,650 plants to reforest part of a nine-kilometre stretch of the Maskeli Oya, supporting a project to create over 50 ha of forest.

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 Stock Exchange closed higher: ASPI rose 0.92% to 12,164 and S&P SL20 gained 1.34% to 3,590, led by banking stocks which accounted for Rs 1.4bn of turnover; top contributors included C T Holdings, Sampath Bank, John Keells and Commercial Bank.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon chairman Sharhan Muhseen spoke on sustainable finance—highlighting the bank's green bond and ESG investing approach—at the UN Global Compact ‘Forward Faster Now|Asia & Oceania’ regional event in Kuala Lumpur.