News & market updates

Colombo market extended its rebound as the ASPI rose 0.24% (49.81 pts) to 21,199.37 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.22% to 5,945.87, with turnover about Rs.1.1bn and foreigners net sellers of Rs.188.6m. Top contributors included HNB, CARS, CINS, NDB and TKYO; NDB, SAMP and PKME gained while MELS fell and JKH closed flat.

Colombo bourse closed lower with the ASPI down 0.21% to 22,695 as investor sentiment remained subdued after the CBSL rate hike; market turnover was over Rs. 1.7 billion.

ASPI rose 258.09 points (+1.13%) on 7 Jul as CSE turnover reached ~Rs.5.28 B; Industrial Asphalt jumped 40%, SMB Finance gained (non‑voting +33.33%, voting +25%), while Palm Garden Hotels fell 7.08% and foreign net outflow was Rs.22.32 M.

Colombo market closed in the green for a fourth straight session as the ASPI rose 0.07% to 22,635 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.18% to 6,241.01; turnover was about Rs.4.2bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.332.5m. CINS, BREW and JKH were among top contributors while diversified financials and banks led turnover.

ASPI fell 0.45% to 21,032.46 as foreign net outflows reached Rs.1.099bn over two days (Rs.294m yesterday, Rs.805m prior). Banking led turnover (49%); key negatives included NDB, Ceylinco (CINS), Melstacorp and JKH, while Galle Face Capital (WAPO) gained.

Colombo bourse opened mixed: ASPI rose 0.04% to 21,126.60 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.24%; market turnover exceeded Rs. 3bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs. 804.7m. Food & beverage and capital goods led turnover with heavy crossings in Melstacorp.

The ASPI rose 3.47% (706.26 pts) to 21,071.23, recovering Rs. 244 billion on reports of a possible de‑escalation in the Middle East; the S&P SL20 gained 3.91% to 5,909.23. Market turnover exceeded Rs. 4.2 billion with gains led by Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, John Keells and Colombo Dockyard while foreigners were net sellers.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 1.09% (222.54 pts) to 20,640.63 on turnover of Rs.5.27bn, while foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.191.2m. Banking led turnover (34%) driven by HNB crossings of Rs.607.7m; top movers included DOCK, RIL, AEL, MELS and ACL.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 2.17% (474.38 pts) to 22,378.52 after global oil prices fell below $95/bbl, with gains led by banks and blue-chips including HNB, SAMP, COMB and DIAL and turnover of about Rs.4.48bn.

The CSE fell, with the ASPI down 4.34% (1,032.15 points) for the week as index-heavy banking and diversified holdings stocks dragged the market. Foreign investors were net sellers (week net outflow Rs.791.2m); large declines came from JKH, HNB and SAMP while ACL, CINS and RAL saw heavy off‑board turnover.

Colombo stocks closed in red, with the ASPI down 0.39% (92.40 pts) to 23,690.62 and the S&P SL20 down 0.71% to 6,681.12 on turnover of nearly Rs.3.7bn. Price losses in John Keells, Melstacorp and Nations Trust Bank were key negatives while ACL Cables, Access Engineering and Dialog were top turnover names.

George Steuart & Co. sold a 17.99% stake in HVA Foods PLC, disposing 44 million shares for Rs. 189.7 million at Rs. 4.30–4.60 per share. As of end-December 2025 George Steuart held a 72.39% stake before the sale; HVA reported net liabilities of Rs.0.26 per share and the stock closed at Rs.4.40.

The Colombo market ended lower with the ASPI down 0.37% (88.58 pts) to 23,812.31 amid profit-taking, elevated turnover and net foreign outflows (week net outflow > Rs.2.36bn); daily turnover was about Rs.9.2bn and foreign investors were net sellers (Rs.1.7bn yesterday).

ASPI ended marginally up at 23,960.16 (+0.03%) on turnover of over Rs.5.2bn. Capital goods led turnover (31%) driven by Colombo Dockyard and John Keells, while diversified financials and banks contributed 21% and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.128.2m.

The Colombo bourse fell, with the ASPI down 0.53% to 22,982.72 (slipping below 23,000) and the S&P SL20 down 0.28% to 6,364.61. Foreigners were net sellers (Rs.163.8m yesterday; Rs.461.8m net outflow for the week); Bukit Darah and Ambeon were among decliners while Renuka Agri and Access Engineering drew buying interest.

Colombo market slipped as the ASPI fell 73 points (0.36%) and the S&P SL20 declined 0.78% on Rs. 4.4bn turnover, with foreign investors net sellers of Rs. 801.2m amid profit-taking and political uncertainty following the remand of former President Wickremesinghe.

George Steuart sold 10.22% of its stake in HVA Foods (25 million shares) for Rs. 88 million, at prices of Rs. 3.50–4.00 per share. Net asset value per share was a negative Rs. 0.29 as at 31 Mar 2025; George Steuart still holds 82.6% and public float is 11.9% (3,492 shareholders).

George Steuart sold over 10% of its stake in H V A Foods, disposing of 25 million shares in market trades at Rs 3.50–4.00; HVA stock closed at Rs 3.30.

ASPI rose 0.9% to lift its YTD return to 10.74% as turnover reached Rs.5.68 billion led by LVEF (Rs.500m), RCL (Rs.304m) and TILE (Rs.269m), with banking and capital‑goods/construction counters among the session’s key drivers.

The Sri Lanka-Russia Business Council held its 21st AGM, highlighting Russia's continued role in Sri Lanka's tourism and export trade and outlining export targets and SME support; the newly elected committee includes a representative from HVA Foods PLC.

The Sri Lanka–Russia Business Council held its 21st AGM in Colombo, highlighting trade, tourism and export ties with Russia and discussing targets to boost merchandise and service exports and SME support; HVA Foods PLC was named among new committee representatives.

HVA Foods PLC has signed an exclusive distributor partnership with Germany’s Müggenburg Group to introduce its range of herbs and botanicals into Sri Lanka. The collaboration targets value-added tea production and expansion into nutraceuticals and supplements, leveraging George Steuart Group links.

HVA Foods PLC has signed an exclusive distributor partnership with Germany’s Müggenburg Group to introduce its range of herbs and botanicals into Sri Lanka, supporting value-added tea production and expansion into nutraceuticals and supplements.

HVA Foods PLC signed an exclusive herb distribution agreement with Muggenburg Pflanzliche Rohstoffe GmbH & Co. KG on 29 October to supply herbs to value-added tea exporters, nutraceutical and supplement companies in Sri Lanka.

COYLE held its 2024 Leadership Forum at Shangri‑La Colombo, partnered with Nations Trust Bank and launched the Future Founders initiative, signing MoUs with three schools to promote entrepreneurship at the school level.