News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 0.58% to 12,875 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.91% to 3,866, with banking stocks contributing over LKR 1bn of turnover. Vidullanka announced a scrip dividend listing and Ceylon Tobacco declared a third interim dividend of 40.9 per share.

Colombo stock market ended the week with marginal losses — the ASPI fell 0.5% for the week (up 0.6% on Friday) with Friday turnover of Rs. 2bn. Ceylon Tobacco announced an interim dividend of Rs. 40.90 per share; notable moves included gains in Royal Ceramics, Dipped Products and Lanka Milk Foods and a decline in John Keells.

Dividend · Rs 40.90 · XD Nov 20, 2024

Third Interim dividend of LKR 40.9/share; XD 2024-11-20; record 2024-11-20; payable 2024-12-09; FY 2024

Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC.N0000) appointed Samanmalee Priyanvada Chandrasiri as a Non-Executive Director effective 7 November. She is a globally experienced HR leader with nearly two decades of BAT group experience, including senior global HR and talent roles.

Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC appointed Samanmalee Priyanvada Chandrasiri as a Non-Executive Director effective 7 November. She brings nearly two decades of HR leadership at BAT, including global Group Head roles in talent, organisation effectiveness and inclusion.

Colombo Stock Exchange recorded Rs.4.7bn turnover as the S&P SL20 rose 1% and the ASPI gained 0.35%. HNB (Rs.1.39bn), Sampath (Rs.1bn) and JKH (Rs.442mn) led turnover; HNB and Sampath fell while Commercial Bank, John Keells, DFCC, CTC and Central Finance posted gains.

Colombo Stock Exchange ended the week in green: ASPI rose 0.35% to 12,517 and turnover was Rs4.7bn, with Sampath Bank and Hatton National Bank contributing over Rs1bn and Rs1.3bn respectively. Net foreign outflow was Rs186m and Lion Brewery announced a Rs17.3/share dividend.

CSE turnover rose to an eight-month high of Rs.4.8bn as ASPI gained 0.94% and the S&P SL20 gained 1.55%; heavy trading and price gains were led by John Keells, Hayleys, Sampath Bank, Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank, Ceylon Tobacco and Resus Energy.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: ASPI rose 0.92% to 12,164 and S&P SL20 gained 1.34% to 3,590, led by banking stocks which accounted for Rs 1.4bn of turnover; top contributors included C T Holdings, Sampath Bank, John Keells and Commercial Bank.

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.

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.

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: 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.

Colombo market fell as S&P SL20 dropped 1.77% and ASPI declined 1% with turnover of Rs. 1.23 billion and net foreign inflow of Rs. 44.8 million. Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank, Ceylon Tobacco Company, Sampath Bank and Royal Ceramics were the top negative contributors.

Colombo Stock Exchange fell: All Share Index down 1.05% to 10,663 and S&P SL20 down 1.77% to 2,960. Turnover was 1.2 billion with net foreign outflow of 44.81 million; top turnover stocks included Ceylon Tobacco, HNB, Commercial Bank, John Keells and Royal Ceramics, with mixed foreign buying/selling.

Colombo Bourse fell for a second week as the ASPI lost 0.9% and the S&P SL20 lost 1.5% amid election uncertainty, with weekly turnover averaging Rs.1.03 billion. Major laggards included Commercial Bank, HNB, John Keells and Windforce, while Ceylon Tobacco, Ceylon Grain Elevators and Cable Solutions gained.

Colombo market rebounded, ending a 12-day losing run as the ASPI rose 1.5% (164 points) with turnover of Rs. 1.46bn; banking counters and index heavyweights such as Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, Melstacorp, CTC and Hayleys were top contributors.

Colombo bourse continued its negative run as election uncertainty pushed both indices down over 0.4%, with market capitalisation at Rs. 4.23 trillion (0.4% YTD decline) and turnover of Rs. 1.1 billion. Notable moves: CTC down Rs.46.50 to Rs.1,163.50, Commercial Bank down Rs.1 to Rs.83.70, HNB down Rs.1.50 to Rs.163.50 and JKH down 50c to Rs.167; retail interest seen in Browns Investments and LOLC Finance.

Colombo Stock Exchange slid as the All Share Index fell 0.43% to 10,673 and the S&P SL20 fell 0.55% to 2,990 on turnover of 1.1 billion; net foreign inflow was 39 million and several stocks recorded crosses and foreign flows.

ASPI fell 4.7% and the S&P SL20 lost 6.3% last week amid election-related bearishness, with banking and blue-chip counters (HNB, JKH, CTC, RICH, VFIN) dragging the market; Renuka Agri Foods saw a large off-board block and price rise.

Colombo market slipped for a seventh straight session as ASPI fell below 11,000 to close at 10,946 (-1.33%) and S&P SL20 lost 1.68%, with turnover Rs. 732.49mn. Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, Melstacorp, Ceylon Tobacco, Browns Investments and John Keells were among the top negative contributors.

All Share Index fell 1.33% to 10,945, dropping below 11,000, while the S&P SL20 declined 1.68% to 3,096 on turnover of 732 million. Top turnover stocks included Ceylon Tobacco, Melstacorp, Browns Investments, Commercial Bank and John Keells, with a net foreign inflow of 49.9 million.

Colombo stocks slipped as the S&P SL20 fell 0.4% and the ASPI 0.2%, with turnover rising to Rs. 798 million aided by crossings. Banking counters (Commercial Bank, HNB, Sampath) and blue chips (JKH, CTC) led losses while Kelani Tyres gained and foreign investors were net buyers (+Rs.15.6m).

Colombo market opened lower with the ASPI closing at 11,495, down 9 points, on turnover of Rs.580.5m; capital goods led turnover (38%) while banking and blue-chip counters put pressure on the index.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower as All Share Index fell 0.08% to 11,494 and S&P SL20 fell 0.02% to 3,300, with differing informal election polls weighing on sentiment. Turnover was 580 million with net foreign inflow of 47.8 million; crossings included JKH, TJL and MELS, and Lanka Aluminium declared a Rs1 dividend.

Haycarb PLC’s Deputy MD Brahman Balaratnarajah was re-elected IASL Chairman for 2024/25 at the Industrial Association of Sri Lanka's 33rd AGM on Aug 9, 2024. The AGM highlighted the industrial sector's role and named an Executive Committee including PGP Glass, Lion Brewery, Richard Pieris, Ex-Pack, Swadeshi and Ceylon Tobacco.

Colombo Bourse rose for a fifth straight session as the ASPI gained 1% to close at 11,531 (S&P SL20 +1.3%), with banking and food & beverage stocks led by HNB, SAMP, DFCC, MELS and LMF driving the rally amid Rs.776m turnover.

Ceylon Tobacco Company said volumes fell in the June 2024 quarter, with revenue down to Rs 50.32bn from Rs 54.76bn a year earlier amid successive excise increases and taxes paid falling to Rs 34.7bn. Pre-tax profit rose to Rs 12.0bn from Rs 10.3bn and exports of tobacco leaf partially mitigated turnover losses.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: All Share Index up 0.58% at 11,413 and S&P SL20 up 1.05% at 3,278, with turnover of 1.3 billion. Banks drew interest after positive interim results — Hatton National Bank posted a six-month PAT of 15.4 billion; John Keells saw 144 million in foreign buying while Hayleys faced foreign selling.

Colombo market improved as the ASPI rose 35 pts to 11,347 and turnover jumped to Rs.648.6m (up 92%), led by Capital Goods; key contributors included JKH, CTC, RCL and others, while there was a net foreign outflow of Rs.23m.