News & market updates

Colombo market hit a record as the ASPI rose 289.69 points (1.45%) to close at 20,218 on turnover of Rs. 9.54bn. Banks led activity (bank sector +2.78%), with top contributors including COMB, DFCC, LOLC, NTB and SAMP.

ASPI fell 0.64% to 19,786 after briefly crossing the 20,000 mark, with turnover of Rs.4.53bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.8.2m. Banking stocks and conglomerates weighed on the market, with JKH, MELS, NDB, AEL and BUKI among top negative contributors while DFCC and Royal Ceramics saw gains.

Colombo market closed July with ASPI up 9% for the month (ASPI YTD +23%) and S&P SL20 up 7.7% (YTD +18.5%), with average daily turnover in July at Rs.7.16bn. Banking-led activity saw HAYL, DFCC, BIL, NDB and COCR as key contributors while foreigners were net sellers (Rs.134m).

Colombo market extended its positive streak to nine days as the ASPI rose about 34 points (0.17%) on turnover of Rs.5.28 billion. Key contributors included MELS, SEYB, CTC, ACL and SAMP; ACL rose Rs.6.50 while Access Engineering fell 30 cents, and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.36.2m.

Colombo Stock Exchange sustained an upward trend as the ASPI rose 0.07% and turnover climbed to Rs. 7.59 billion. The banking sector contributed 38% of turnover, while gains in ACL, Melstacorp, Hayleys and Central Finance and active trading in Sierra Cables and Access Engineering underpinned the session; John Keells weakened.

First Capital Holdings PLC held its Mid-Year Outlook Investor Forum on 17 July, extending its LKR/USD target to 300–310 to December 2025 and setting an ASPI target of 18,000–19,000 for 2025. The forum also forecast mild rupee depreciation to 305–315 in H1 2026, ASPI 21,000–22,000 in 2026, and AWPR easing to 7.5–8.5% before edging up next year.

First Capital Holdings PLC held its Mid‑Year Outlook Investor Forum on 17 July 2025, forecasting an LKR/USD target of 300–310 to Dec 2025, ASPI 18,000–19,000 for 2025 (21,000–22,000 in 2026) and AWPR down to 7.5%–8.5% after a likely 25bp cut. The virtual forum drew 900+ registrations, was run in Sinhala, Tamil and English, and featured panelists from Hemas and Access Engineering.

ASPI rose 136.16 points (2%) to close at 19,379 on turnover of Rs.6.21bn, with banks dominating activity. CINS, CFIN, NDB, COMB and CTC were top positive contributors; NDB rose, DFCC fell and Ambeon (TAP) gained.

DIMO (Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC) has secured the contract to design and supply the Low Voltage power distribution system for Marina Square – Colombo, serving 1,088 apartments plus a retail mall and amenities. The SIVACON switchboards and DIMO Lumin Apartment DBs were manufactured locally under a Siemens license and comply with IEC 61439 standards.

Colombo bourse extended gains as the ASPI closed at 19,092 (up ~47 points) on turnover of Rs.5.9bn; banking led activity (23%) and top contributors included DFCC, NDB, AEL, HNB and ASHO, while foreigners were net sellers of Rs.38.2m.

Colombo's ASPI rose 0.25% to 19,091.93, led by gains in DFCC, NDB, Access Engineering and HNB; turnover was about 5.9 billion rupees and spot gold was trading near $3,400. Sri Lanka is set for another round of US tariff talks ahead of an Aug 1 deadline.

Colombo bourse hit a new high as the ASPI closed at 19,044, up roughly 70–77 points while the S&P SL20 fell about 8 points; turnover was around Rs.5.3–5.4bn and net foreign outflow stood at Rs.121.4m.

Colombo market closed a healthy week: ASPI +2.3%, S&P SL20 +3.1%, average daily turnover Rs.9.88bn and net foreign inflow Rs.373.9m. Key contributors included Central Finance, Hayleys, John Keells, Sampath and Singer; John Keells rose to Rs.25.50 while HNB fell to Rs.358.50 and Seylan (non-voting) rose to Rs.66.30.

Access Engineering, Commercial Bank of Ceylon and Dialog Axiata joined NASSL to launch a Rs.100 million, three-year 'Rebuild Trust in Science' public engagement initiative (Apr 2025–Mar 2028). Each corporate partner will champion specific thrust areas including R&D, entrepreneurship and digitalisation.

Profit-taking dragged the Colombo market down, with ASPI closing 8 points lower (‑0.04%) at 18,877 on turnover of Rs.6.2bn and foreign net selling of Rs.115.2m. COMB, MELS, SAMP and NDB were top negative contributors while JETS, SERV and AEL recorded gains.

Browns Investments sold 39.3 million Hatton National Bank non-voting (X) shares for Rs.10.78 bn, pushing Colombo Stock Exchange turnover to about Rs.17 bn. Profit-taking left the ASPI down 61 points at 18,885, with the banking sector accounting for 76% of turnover.

ASPI gained about 108 points to 18,946 on Rs. 9.1 billion turnover, led by the Capital Goods sector; John Keells, Commercial Bank, Access Engineering, Hayleys and LOLC were top contributors and banking names including HNB and Sampath also recorded gains.

Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 0.57% to a record 18,946, with the S&P SL20 up 1.28% to 5,700.54. Gains were led by diversified, financial and consumer shares amid lower interest-rate expectations and ongoing talks to reduce US tariffs on Sri Lankan exports.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI gained 129 points (0.7%) on fresh buying, with turnover of Rs.5.98bn. Banking and construction led gains — HNB, Central Finance, R I L Property and Melstacorp were among top contributors while foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.84.4m.

Colombo market fell as ASPI declined 0.58% (around 106 points) and S&P SL20 down 0.5% on low turnover of Rs.2.4bn; major drags included Melstacorp, Colombo Dockyard, Commercial Bank, Aitken Spence and NDB, while turnover was led by Sampath, John Keells and Vallibel Finance.

Colombo's ASPI finished the week up 1.5%, closing at 18,148 (up 47 pts) while the S&P SL20 gained 1.6%, with weekly turnover averaging Rs.6.8bn. Top contributors included John Keells, Melstacorp, Commercial Bank, Sunshine and CT Holdings, and food retailing led turnover.

ASPI fell 0.23% (41 points) to 18,000 as profit-taking weighed on the Colombo market, led by declines in HAYL, CTHR, DOCK, GRAN and SAMP. Turnover was Rs.5.6bn with capital goods (notably JKH, AEL) and banking among top contributors; foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.48.3m.

Colombo bourse rebounded as ASPI rose 0.8% (145 pts) to 18,142 on turnover of Rs.7.8bn, led by strong activity in Capital Goods and Banking; CTHR, DOCK, AEL, RIL and JKH were among top positive contributors.

Colombo stocks closed marginally down, with the ASPI falling 0.23% to 18,100 and the S&P SL20 down 0.22% to 5,347. Seylan Bank received in-principle CSE approval for a Rs15bn Basel III debenture issue, and Tal Lanka Hotels listed 32,228,524 ordinary voting shares after a private placement.

The IMF approved a $350mn drawdown under Sri Lanka's EFF, and the ASPI rose 0.81% to 18,141.79; investor interest lifted construction and property stocks led by Access Engineering, ACL Cables and JAT, with gains in C T Holdings and Colombo Dockyard.

ASPI crossed 18,000 to close at 18,026 as both indices rose about 7% for June, with turnover of Rs. 6.38bn led by LFIN, AEL, JKH, CFIN and SAMP.

DIMO secured the contract to design and supply the Low Voltage power distribution system for Marina Square – Colombo, a 1,088-apartment luxury development. The Type‑tested SIVACON LV switchboards and DIMO Lumin Apartment DBs were manufactured at DIMO’s Weliweriya facility under license with SIEMENS (IEC 61439 compliant).

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.

Colombo market rebounded after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, with the ASPI up 2.5% (426 pts) and turnover Rs.5.2bn. Banking stocks and conglomerates led gains, with JKH, COMB, PABC and CFIN among the top contributors.