News & market updates

Sri Lanka stocks closed up, ASPI +0.29% to 16,478.67 and S&P SL20 +0.86% to 4,940.49, led by banks and Ceylon Tobacco. Top contributors were HNB, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, Ceylon Tobacco and Chevron Lubricants; turnover was Rs 1.7bn with a net foreign inflow of Rs 9.7m.

Sri Lanka's ASPI closed up 0.72% as renewed buying interest lifted the market, led by financials and with tourism stocks in focus; turnover was Rs 1.6 billion and there was a net foreign outflow of Rs 123 million.

Ceylon Tobacco Company Plc (CTC.N0000) said December-quarter net profit fell 7.5% to Rs 7,865 million, with EPS of Rs 41.68. Sales volumes declined due to smuggled cigarettes, net revenues fell 4% to Rs 16.8 billion and the company exported tobacco leaf to partly mitigate turnover.

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Colombo market closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.7% to 17,074 and the S&P SL20 dropped 0.8% on low turnover of Rs.3.7 billion (35.8% below the monthly average). Banks dominated turnover (30%); BUKI and SEMB were top positive contributors while COMB, HNB, HHL, JKH, CTC, SAMP and NDB were among the top decliners.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down 0.70% to ASPI 17,074.02 on turnover Rs3.6bn, with a net foreign inflow of Rs307mn. Top turnover and movers included Dialog, Commercial Bank, Hemas, HNB and John Keells; LB Finance announced a Rs2.25 interim dividend.

ASPI rose ~232 points (1.41%) to 16,578 as the Colombo market returned to positive territory with turnover of Rs.3.58bn. Ceylinco, Central Finance, Sampath, LOLC and NDB were top positive contributors while CTC, HNB and SPEN weighed on the index; Ambeon, JKH and Printcare also gained.

ASPI fell 1.3% (221 pts) to 16,345 as the Colombo market stayed bearish for a second day with Rs.2.4bn turnover; the Banking sector led losses and turnover, with HNB, SAMP, DFCC, MELS and COMB the main negatives and CTC, RICH and COOP top positives.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 1.33% to 16,345.30 as turnover was Rs2.3bn, with banks weighing on the market. Major decliners included NDB, Seylan, HNB, Sampath and DFCC while Nations Trust, Colombo Dockyard and Ceylon Tobacco gained; net foreign outflow was Rs64m.

Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC awarded its Chairman’s Award 2024 to Roshan Dissanayake, Leaf Area Manager, for leading the Dust Waste Solution — a commercial organic pesticide made from in-house materials that reduced waste. Jagath Karunathilaka was runner-up and a twelve-member team won the group award.

Two prominent Sri Lankan business figures, Ken Balendra (85) and Harry Jayawardena (82), died yesterday. Both men had led or chaired multiple listed firms, including Melstacorp, Aitken Spence, Distilleries Co., Ceylon Tobacco, Lanka Milk Foods and Hatton National Bank.

Colombo market closed Friday lower with the ASPI down 108 points (0.64%) to 16,918 and the S&P SL20 off 1.23%; turnover was Rs.7.44bn. Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Banking were top turnover contributors while selected stocks (e.g., Melstacorp, Sierra Cables) saw mixed moves.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 0.64% to 16,917.86 in a market correction as SL20 dropped 1.23% and turnover was Rs 7.4bn. Banks led the pullback (HNB -4.0%, NDB -1.34%, DFCC -1.5%, Seylan -0.5%) while Browns Investments, Sierra Cables, John Keells and RIL were among the most active stocks.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose as banking stocks led gains after Fitch upgraded several Sri Lankan banks; the ASPI closed up 1.40% at 16,828.80. Turnover was LKR 10.66bn with a net domestic inflow of LKR 670m and a net foreign outflow of LKR 670m; notable movers included HNB, NDB, Browns and Ceylon Tobacco.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed at a record high, with the ASPI up 1.88% to 15,827.39 and the S&P SL20 up 3.14%, led by bank and financial stocks including HNB, NDB, Sampath, DFCC and CTC. Declining interest rates and expectations of foreign inflows were cited as drivers.

The ASPI crossed the 15,000 mark, closing at 15,021 after a 210-point (1.4%) gain on Rs.8.5bn turnover, led by heavy activity in banking and contributions from Browns Investments, HNB, Sampath, LOLC and JKH.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 1.07% to 14,810 and turnover hit Rs9.23bn, the highest since Feb 7. Top contributors included Central Finance, Ceylon Cold Stores, Melstacorp, Access Engineering and Chevron Lubricants; net foreign outflow was Rs226m.

The ASPI rose 0.67% to 14,614 as the Colombo bourse closed higher with turnover of Rs. 6 billion and a net foreign inflow of Rs. 100.7 million. Banking led turnover (20%) and HNB, DIMO, Vallibel One, Central Finance and CTC were among the top positive contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 0.67% to 14,614.30 on turnover of 6.01 billion, with banking stocks rallying and foreign investors net buyers of LKR 100.7 million; top contributors included HNB, DIMO, CFIN and CTC.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.41% to 13,774, led by gains in diversified financials and capital goods with top contributors including Browns Investments, John Keells, LOLC Finance and Ceylon Tobacco. Turnover was Rs4.3bn and Abans's Rs300mn debenture issue was oversubscribed.

Aitken Spence won the Ceylon Chamber Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2024. Shortlist firms recognised included Talawakelle Tea Estates (Category B winner), Sampath Bank (runner-up and finance sector champion) and other shortlist companies such as Dilmah, Haycarb, Kelani Valley, Elpitiya, Jetwing Symphony, Hemas, Singer and Ceylon Tobacco.

Aitken Spence won the Grand Slam Award at the 21st Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2024. Shortlisted companies receiving awards included Sampath Bank, Talawakelle Tea Estates, Kelani Valley and Elpitiya Plantations, Jetwing Symphony, Haycarb, Dilmah, Hemas, Singer and Ceylon Tobacco.

Aitken Spence PLC won the Grand Slam Award at the 21st Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2024 after claiming the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2024. Multiple other listed firms (including Sampath Bank, Talawakelle, Kelani Valley, Dilmah, Haycarb and others) were also recognised across categories.

Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) held its annual Distributor Awards on 23 November at the SLECC, recognising 135 distributors and attended by over 2,100 distributors and invitees.

Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC held its annual Distributor Awards on 23 Nov 2024 at SLECC, recognizing 135 distributors across five categories and attended by over 2,100 distributors and invitees. Company executives said the awards celebrate distributor commitment and their contribution to CTC’s growth.

Colombo bourse rebounded as the S&P SL20 rose 1.3% and the ASPI gained 0.7% on Rs.1.1bn turnover. Banking led turnover (34%) with Sampath and Commercial Bank among top contributors, capital goods and retail sectors were active, and net foreign outflow was Rs.134m.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.76% to 12,964 and S&P SL20 rose 1.51% to 3,852, with turnover Rs1.1bn. Banking (Rs383mn) and capital goods (Rs312mn) led activity; top gainers included John Keells Holdings, Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank and Ceylon Tobacco.

ASPI rose 0.6% to 12,875 (a multi-week high) as banking and blue-chip stocks led gains; turnover was Rs.2.4bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.23.3m.