News & market updates

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.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index up 0.10% at 11,671 and S&P SL20 up 0.50% at 3,384, turnover 4.3 billion and net foreign inflow of 633 million rupees.

Dilshan Perera, Chief Transformation Officer at HNB General Insurance, was recognized at the Sri Lanka Leadership Awards 2024. HNB Group highlighted his role in driving digital transformation, brand building and customer-centric strategies at the insurer.

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.

Hayleys tops the LMD 100 for FY2023/24 with consolidated revenue in excess of Rs.436 billion. Commercial Bank is second with nearly Rs.342 billion and LOLC third with over Rs.337 billion; Ceylon Tobacco leads profitability with PAT above Rs.27 billion.

Hatton National Bank Team A won the Trade Finance Association of Bankers Quiz and Social on 7 September at The Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo; the event drew heads and management from state and private banks and trade stakeholders, followed by a networking social hour.

Hatton National Bank (HNB) won 'Sri Lanka's Best Bank' and 'Sri Lanka's Best Bank for SMEs' at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2024. HNB said the recognition reflects growth in deposits, fee income and PAT, rising digital adoption, SME support, export facilitation and ESG initiatives.

Hatton National Bank (HNB.N0000) won 'Sri Lanka's Best Bank' and 'Sri Lanka's Best Bank for SMEs' at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2024; the bank said growth in deposits, fee income and PAT and rising digital adoption underpinned the recognition.

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.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index +2.87% to 11,659 and S&P SL20 +4.09% to 3,367, with turnover Rs3.9bn and net foreign inflow Rs82.10m. Banking stocks led gains while foreign buying concentrated in Sampath, HNB, Bukit Darah and LOLC Finance and selling hit CIC, Nations Trust, hSenid, John Keells and Ceylon Cold Stores.

Hatton National Bank (HNB.N0000) won 'Sri Lanka's Best Bank' and 'Sri Lanka's Best Bank for SMEs' at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2024. The bank said growth in deposits, fee income and PAT was driven by rising digital adoption, SME support and contributions from bancassurance.

HNB PLC relaunched an exclusive PPA Affinity Card for the Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya Past Pupils Association, offering zero joining fee, a first-year annual fee waiver, 0% 12-month installment plans on school and other payments, and a percentage donation to the PPA.

Sri Lanka stocks surged 2.1% Tuesday, with the All Share Index up 237.31 points to 11,334.12, led by retail buying in banks. Commercial Bank, Melstacorp, LOLC, Hatton National Bank and Ceylon Cold Stores were among the 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 Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index rose 1.19% to 11,096 and S&P SL20 rose 1.88% to 3,160. Larger banks (HNB, COMB, SAMP, DFCC, NDB) led gains while some smaller banks (NTB) fell and HDFC was flat; turnover was 994 million and net foreign outflow 5.2 million.

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 Stock Exchange closed higher with banks leading gains after Sri Lanka reached a deal to restructure defaulted sovereign bonds allowing local banks to swap 70% of ISBs into dollar bonds with a 10% haircut and convert the remaining 30% into rupee securities.

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.

Hatton National Bank (HNB) has partnered with the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka to introduce IBSL’s Diploma in Microfinance for more than 130 HNB microfinance officers, aiming to boost staff skills and support the bank’s expanding microfinance operations.

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.

HNB PLC has launched the IBSL Diploma in Microfinance for more than 130 of its microfinance officers in partnership with the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka to strengthen staff skills and support its expanding microfinance operations.

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.

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.

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.

ASPI slipped 0.07% to 10,567 while the S&P SL20 rose 0.06%, with turnover at Rs.1.14bn led by the banking sector (63%); key movers included declines in Commercial Bank, HNB, Sampath Bank, John Keells and Ceylinco, while Dipped Products saw mixed interest.

Parliament approved offshore banking regulations for Port City Colombo on 4 September, enabling offshore branches and granting six local banks (including Commercial Bank, HNB, DFCC, NDB and NTB) Authorised Person status. The rules permit direct foreign-currency transactions under Central Bank and FIU oversight to attract FDI.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down: the All Share Index fell 0.07% to 10,567 while the S&P SL20 rose 0.06% to 2,925, turnover was LKR 1.1 billion and there was a net foreign inflow of LKR 13.49 million; banks (Commercial Bank, HNB, Sampath) led turnover.