News & market updates

Anura Kumara Dissanayake's 21 Sept. presidential win propelled the Colombo bourse—ASPI rose ~10% and S&P SL20 ~13% since the victory, returning indices to double-digit YTD gains. Turnover jumped to Rs.2.6bn with banks and capital goods leading; JKH, COMB, NDB, CFIN, SAMP and HNB were key positives while UML, MARA and BERU fell.

Ceylon Hospitals resolved to amalgamate with its subsidiary Durdans Heart Centre via a share swap of 0.2933 CHPLC shares per DHC share, with a Rs33 cash option; trading in CHL shares was halted pending the disclosure. The Colombo bourse closed higher (ASPI +1.16%), led by gains in banking stocks including HNB, JKH, Commercial Bank, DFCC and Sampath.

Samsung hosted a Retail Training Summit and Samsung Members Welcome Event at BMICH in Colombo, bringing together over 450 sales professionals and working with local partners including John Keells Office Automation, Softlogic Mobile Distribution and Dialog.

Ceylon Cold Stores' Gunadamin Elephant House, partnering with Muve Colombo and Cleantech, launched a six-month beach clean-up from Mount Lavinia to Wellawatta starting 7 Sep, installing bins and funding daily PET collection with Cleantech handling labor and recycling.

ASPI rose 7.4% for the week, closing yesterday at 11,774 (up 102) as investor confidence returned amid declining government security yields. Capital goods and banks led turnover with Access Engineering, John Keells, Aitken Spence and HNB among top contributors; MGT gained 4.9% while Sampath dipped slightly.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Colombo market closed modestly higher with the ASPI up 4 points to 10,575 and turnover of Rs.1.03 billion. Banking stocks made up 54% of turnover while Royal Ceramics, NDB and Asian Hotels & Properties led gains and Commercial Bank, Nations Trust Bank and Sierra Cables fell.

The ASPI fell 0.65% to 10,571, taking its YTD return to -0.78%. Declines in Commercial Bank, John Keells, Sampath and HNB led the drop; turnover was Rs.1bn (up 46.9% vs monthly average) and foreign investors were net buyers of Rs.131.1m.

ASPI fell 0.65% to 10,571, pushing its YTD return to -0.78% — the first YTD negative for 2024. Banking and blue-chip counters (Commercial Bank, John Keells, Sampath, HNB, DFCC) led declines; turnover was Rs.1bn (up 46.9% vs monthly avg) and foreigners net bought Rs.131.1m.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down — All Share Index fell 0.86% to 10,571 and S&P SL20 fell 1.25% to 2,923, with turnover Rs1.2bn. Top turnover stocks included John Keells, HNB, Richard Pieris, Commercial Bank and Alliance Finance, with net foreign inflow of Rs131.7m.

Samsung Sri Lanka launched the Galaxy A06, to be sold island-wide through John Keells Office Automation, Softlogic Mobile Distribution, Singer and Dialog network partners.

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.

Dilani Hewage of Cinnamon Wild Yala (part of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts) won Best Assistant Housekeeper of Asia at the 2024 Asian Housekeeper Awards. The award recognizes her excellence in cleanliness and operational efficiency, reflecting positively on the resort's service standards.

ASPI fell 0.3% to close at 10,801 as turnover was Rs.1.5 billion; indices reversed gains after a short-lived rebound. Melstacorp, Hemas, DFCC, LOLC and John Keells were among the top negative contributors while Hatton National Bank gained and Commercial Bank was flat.

Cinnamon Wild Yala assistant housekeeper Dilani Hewage won the Best Assistant Housekeeper of Asia title at the 2024 Asian Housekeeper Awards. Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts said the accolade reflects its high standards of cleanliness and service quality.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower, with the All Share Index down 0.33% to 10,801 and the S&P SL20 down 0.32% to 3,035 on turnover of 1.4 billion. Top turnover names included Hemas, John Keells and Commercial Bank, there was net foreign inflow of 11.39 million amid continued selling pressure.

Dialog Axiata PLC named four new finalists for the Dialog Innovation Challenge — Cubic, BabyChart, Shop2Message and WattWise — competing for a share of LKR 5 million and access to mentorship and potential pitch for the Rs. 500 million Digital Innovation Fund.

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.