News & market updates

Colombo market closed the week with the ASPI up 4.6% (closed 17,873, +132pts) and daily turnover Rs.5.12bn; CTHR, JKH, SAMP, HNB and CDB were among top contributors, capital goods and diversified financials led turnover while foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.441.5m.

Sri Lanka's ASPI hit a fresh record high, closing at 17,800 (up 0.75% / 132.28 points) on Friday, driven by gains in capital goods and banking stocks. Notable risers included C T Holdings, John Keells, Sampath Bank, HNB, CDB and Colombo Dockyard.

The Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 1.17% (204.84 pts) to 17,740.46 with turnover of 6.8 billion. Top contributors included C T Holdings, Hemas Holdings, Nations Trust Bank, Sunshine Holdings and Central Finance.

Colombo market turned more bearish as the ASPI fell 1.22% (S&P SL20 down 1.11%) on turnover of Rs. 3.9bn, with HAYL, CTHR, SAMP, DFCC and HNB exerting selling pressure; JKH, L B Finance and CTC also recorded price declines.

Colombo Stock Exchange slid 1.22% as Israel‑Iran tensions intensified, with the ASPI down 210.51 pts to 17,071.44; Hayleys, C T Holdings, Sampath Bank, DFCC Bank and HNB posted notable declines. Turnover fell to 3.8 billion rupees from 6.8 billion rupees.

CT Holdings PLC appointed W.P. Chulantha Wickramaratne, the former Auditor General (2019–2025), to its Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director.

Hatton National Bank saw a 9.99% stake divestment (45.9m shares) by Browns Investments via nine off‑board trades at Rs.305, driving turnover to Rs.18.7bn and lifting the ASPI ~1%. Banking counters led gains and accounted for 81% of turnover, with broad buying across banks and select FMCG names.

A 10% stake transfer in Hatton National Bank (HNB) drove Colombo Stock Exchange gains: ASPI rose 0.98% to 16,657.63 and turnover surged to 18.7 billion rupees, with the HNB trade contributing 14.4 billion; HNB closed at 319.50 (up 17.25).

The Colombo Stock Exchange ended the week with the ASPI up 0.6% and net foreign inflows of Rs.155.9 million, with weekly turnover averaging Rs.2.97 billion; notable contributors included HHL, COOP, SUN, CTHR and BUKI.

Central Bank cut rates by 25 basis points, lifting the Colombo Stock Exchange 0.19% as the ASPI closed 31.49 points higher at 16,504.86. Hemas, Co-operative Insurance, Sunshine, C T Holdings, Bukit Darah and Haycarb were among gainers while Teejay Lanka and Dipped Products fell.

CT Holdings PLC appointed Suren De Silva as an Independent Non-Executive Director. De Silva is a senior legal professional with over 27 years' experience and currently serves as a Director of the Colombo Stock Exchange.

Foreign investors were net buyers with a Rs. 510.4 million inflow as the ASPI rose 0.12% and turnover was Rs. 2.43 billion; key contributors included John Keells, Vallibel One, Commercial Bank, Dialog and others.

Colombo ASPI closed 0.12% higher at 16,355.91 after volatile trading, led in part by Cargills rising to Rs.509.75; S&P SL20 was up 0.11% at 4,816.36. Turnover rose to Rs.2.4bn and banking, construction and consumer-durables shares were active.

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Colombo Bourse opened the week higher: ASPI +0.1% and S&P SL20 +0.3% with turnover Rs. 2.6bn, led by banking stocks (Pan Asia, Commercial Bank, Seylan, HNB) and gains in John Keells and C T Holdings.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed 0.11% higher (ASPI 16,397.79) as investor confidence lifted stocks, led by gains in Hatton National Bank, John Keells, Seylan Bank, C T Holdings and Commercial Bank; turnover was 2.61 billion rupees.

The ASPI fell 120 points (0.75%) to 15,842 as investors reacted to the ruling NPP's weaker-than-expected LG poll showing, with turnover of Rs. 3.2bn. Major drags included JKH, CINS, COMB, SPEN and SAMP while Food, Beverage & Tobacco led turnover (61%).

The CSE opened May on a mixed note as turnover hit a new high of Rs. 6 billion while the ASPI rose 52 points to 15,852; crossings in CT Holdings and Cargills dominated activity, together accounting for the bulk of turnover. Banking and food retail stocks, including Pan Asia Banking and Lankem, were also among top contributors.

ASPI rose 51.80 points (0.33%) to 15,851.74 as turnover hit Rs. 5.9bn, driven by Rs. 2bn crossings in C T Holdings and Cargills. Pan Asia Banking, C T Holdings, DFCC, Melstacorp and Nations Trust were top contributors while John Keells, HNB, Commercial Bank, NDB and Access Engineering weighed on the index.

Colombo market ended a four-day winning streak as the ASPI fell 0.4% (67 points) to 15,800 and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.6%. Turnover was Rs.2.37bn; banking, diversified financials and Food & Beverage led declines, and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.90.6m.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.31% to 15,818.77 ahead of local elections, led by selling in banking counters such as Hatton National Bank and Sampath Bank; export-linked stocks including Hayleys, Teejay Lanka, Haycarb and Dipped Products also slipped.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower: ASPI fell 67.40 points (-0.42%) to 15,799.94. Broad profit-taking hit banks (HNB, SAMP, COMB, CTHR, NDB) while MELS, GLAS, SINS and DIST were among gainers; turnover was Rs.2.37bn with net foreign outflow.

Colombo bourse rose as the ASPI gained 69 points (0.44%) to close at 15,811 on turnover of Rs. 2.79bn, while foreigners were net sellers (net outflow Rs. 101.4m). John Keells, Hemas, Vallibel Finance and Commercial Bank were among top contributors, with capital goods leading turnover and diversified financials and food/beverage active.

Sri Lanka stocks rose 0.44% after a staff-level agreement with the IMF that clears the way for about $344m in financing; the ASPI closed 69.43 points higher at 15,811.47 and the S&P SL20 rose 0.45%. Export-oriented shares led gains while selected banking stocks ended weaker.

ASPI rose 33 points (0.2%) as turnover hit Rs.1.9 billion, led by crossings in Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank and CIC Holdings; banking stocks were the main drivers while materials also saw heavy trading.