News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange fell: All Share Index down 1.05% to 10,663 and S&P SL20 down 1.77% to 2,960. Turnover was 1.2 billion with net foreign outflow of 44.81 million; top turnover stocks included Ceylon Tobacco, HNB, Commercial Bank, John Keells and Royal Ceramics, with mixed foreign buying/selling.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) opened a new full-service branch in Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaitivu offering operations, credit and pawning services and equipped with an ATM and Cash Recycler Machine for 24/7 access.

Colombo Bourse fell for a second week as the ASPI lost 0.9% and the S&P SL20 lost 1.5% amid election uncertainty, with weekly turnover averaging Rs.1.03 billion. Major laggards included Commercial Bank, HNB, John Keells and Windforce, while Ceylon Tobacco, Ceylon Grain Elevators and Cable Solutions gained.

The Colombo Stock Exchange urged urgent capacity building to commercialise green bonds as companies show strong interest but lack clarity; Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000) and DFCC Bank (DFCC.N0000) have announced green bond issues.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower: All Share Index down 0.23% to 10,775 and S&P SL20 down 0.46% to 3,021, turnover 449 million and net foreign outflow of 43.06 million.

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.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc said it has completed the voluntary liquidation of its wholly-owned Italian subsidiary Commex Sri Lanka S.R.L., which has been removed from the Rome Chamber of Commerce registry.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower, with the All Share Index down 0.33% to 10,801 and the S&P SL20 down 0.32% to 3,035 on turnover of 1.4 billion. Top turnover names included Hemas, John Keells and Commercial Bank, there was net foreign inflow of 11.39 million amid continued selling pressure.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon announced student concessions: halved initial TT charges for new student files opened by 30 Nov 2024 and a 0.5% reduction in education loan interest rates for loans taken before that date, plus free UnionPay debit cards and expedited payment procedures.

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.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index +1.54% and S&P SL20 +1.84% with turnover LKR 1.4bn and net foreign outflow of 68.23mn. Market saw accumulation in banking shares and conglomerates, with top turnover in HNB, Commercial Bank and Ceylon Hospitals; mixed foreign flows across CIC, Tess Agro, JAT, Lanka IOC, hSenid and Softlogic.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon ran sustainability and community initiatives at the Nallur Festival — distributing 1,500 plants, conducting a post-chariot road clean-up, stationing a 'Bank-on-Wheels' mobile unit for devotees and offering cardholder discounts up to 35%.

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.

Colombo Stock Exchange slid as the All Share Index fell 0.43% to 10,673 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.55% to 2,990 on turnover of 1.1 billion; net foreign inflow was 39 million and several stocks recorded crosses and foreign flows.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe prioritised economic stability and announced measures including a Rs.50 billion SME/MSME support fund, a new insolvency law, creation of a National Development Bank and an Economic Commission from 1 Jan 2025. He also pledged digitalisation of government services and stronger anti-corruption frameworks.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell as the All Share Index dropped 1.38% to 10,719 and the S&P SL20 fell 1.69% to 3,006 on turnover of 615 million, with election-month political uncertainty weighing on sentiment.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon will issue 50 million redeemable green bonds at Rs100 each (raising Rs5bn) for a five-year term, subject to regulatory approvals. Sustainable Fitch has given a 'Good' opinion on the bank's green bond framework.

Roar AdX ran Meta advertising workshops for Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000), Sampath Bank (SAMP.N0000), Seylan Bank (SEYB.N0000) and National Development Bank (NDB.N0000) to improve their targeted digital advertising strategies and drive growth.

Fitch says Hatton National Bank’s potential acquisition of Bank Alfalah’s Bangladesh operations is unlikely to affect HNB’s rating and would have a modest impact (BAFL: ~Rs.80bn assets, Rs.15.5bn equity — about 5% of HNB’s assets and 8% of its equity). Fitch estimates <1pp drop in capital ratios and flags manageable FX risk; HNB's CET1 was 16.2% at end‑1H24.

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.

Fitch says Hatton National Bank's potential purchase of Bank Alfalah's Bangladesh operations is unlikely to affect HNB's A(lka)/Stable rating and would reduce capital ratios by under 1 percentage point; BAFL had LKR80bn assets and LKR15.5bn equity. HNB's CET1 was 16.2% and Fitch said taka depreciation risk would be manageable.

Fitch says Hatton National Bank’s (HNB) potential acquisition of Bank Alfalah’s Bangladesh operations is unlikely to affect HNB’s ratings and would cut its capital ratios by under 1 percentage point. BAFL’s Bangladesh assets were about LKR80bn (≈5% of HNB’s assets), and central bank approval is needed to start due diligence.

Colombo bourse slipped with the S&P SL20 down 0.83% and ASPI down 0.35% on turnover of Rs.1.03bn as political uncertainty and net foreign selling weighed on sentiment. Banking and blue-chip counters (notably Sampath, Commercial Bank, John Keells and Melstacorp) were main drags while Teejay Lanka and Hayleys saw notable activity.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell, with the All Share Index down 0.36% to 10,869 and the S&P SL20 down 0.38% to 3,058. Turnover was 759 million; top turnover/price moves included Renuka Agri Foods and Sampath Bank (up), HNB, John Keells and Commercial Bank (down), with a net foreign inflow of 0.37 million.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower: All Share Index fell 0.35% to 10,907 and S&P SL20 fell 0.83% to 3,070, with turnover around LKR 1 billion and a net foreign outflow of 25.6 million; top turnover stocks included Sampath, Hayleys, Teejay, Nations Trust and Commercial Bank.

Port City Colombo has onboarded 100+ companies as Authorised Persons (APs) as of 24 Aug 2024, with 22 designated Businesses of Strategic Importance. Several local banks including Sampath, Commercial Bank, HNB, NDB, Nations Trust and DFCC have applied to establish offshore banking branches in the SEZ under new offshore banking regulations.

Colombo market slipped for a seventh straight session as ASPI fell below 11,000 to close at 10,946 (-1.33%) and S&P SL20 lost 1.68%, with turnover Rs. 732.49mn. Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, Melstacorp, Ceylon Tobacco, Browns Investments and John Keells were among the top negative contributors.

All Share Index fell 1.33% to 10,945, dropping below 11,000, while the S&P SL20 declined 1.68% to 3,096 on turnover of 732 million. Top turnover stocks included Ceylon Tobacco, Melstacorp, Browns Investments, Commercial Bank and John Keells, with a net foreign inflow of 49.9 million.