News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange rose with the ASPI up 1.31% (224.01 pts to 16,597.16) and S&P SL20 up 1.72% (85.42 pts to 5,047.45), driven by banking stocks and strong retail turnover. Top turnover generators included Commercial Bank, HNB, DFCC, NDB and Sampath Bank, with a net foreign outflow of Rs 279 million.

Colombo market sustained gains with the ASPI up 0.4% and S&P SL20 up 0.2% on Rs.5 billion turnover and a net foreign inflow of Rs.194.5 million. Top contributors included Commercial Bank, Tokyo Cement, Lanka IOC, ACL Cables and Access Engineering, with banking leading turnover (26%).

Colombo market opened the holidays-shortened week higher as the ASPI rose 1.4% and the S&P SL20 rose 2% on turnover of Rs.4.4bn, supported by lower T-bill yields and strong banking and blue‑chip buying (notable contributors: SAMP, DFCC, NDB, HNB, COMB, JKH).

Colombo Stock Exchange rose as the ASPI closed up 1.42% at 16,152.35 and the S&P SL20 gained 2.02% to 4,905.19. Buying was concentrated in large-cap bluechips and banks, with DFCC, Sampath, NDB, HNB and Commercial Bank among top contributors.

The ASPI fell 143 points (0.9%) to 15,811 and the S&P SL20 lost 1.2%; turnover was Rs.4.13bn with a net foreign outflow of Rs.38m. Selling in banking counters (Sampath, Commercial Bank, DFCC) weighed on the market while John Keells, Browns and LB Finance saw heavy turnover and small price moves.

Sri Lanka's stock market fell 0.89% (ASPI 15,811.36) on Thursday, led by financial stocks as offshore investors net-sold Rs 37m, extending three-session outflows to Rs 315m; top drags included Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank, DFCC Bank and LOLC.

Colombo Stock Exchange rebounded with the ASPI rising 0.63% (≈99 points) to 15,954 on turnover of Rs.5.2 billion. Key contributors included Sampath, Melstacorp, LB Finance and Commercial Bank, with the banking sector leading turnover and a net foreign outflow of Rs.229.6m.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose on Jan 8 with the ASPI up 0.63% to 15,954.01 and the S&P SL20 up 0.57%, led by gains in banks; turnover was 5.23 billion rupees. Sampath, NTB, NDB, L B Finance and Commercial Bank all posted gains as investors shifted from fixed-income after higher withholding tax on interest.

ASPI fell 0.15% (24 pts) to 15,855 as profit-taking continued, with turnover Rs.4.56bn and net foreign outflow of Rs.48.3m. Banks and diversified financials led turnover (22% and 38% combined), with HNB, CFIN, HHL, Browns Investments and John Keells among notable movers.

Sampath Bank is the Official Banking Partner for EDEX Expo 2025, taking place Jan 17-19 in Colombo and Jan 25-26 in Kandy. The fair will host over 100 educational institutions and 20 corporates, offering recruitment and career-development opportunities.

Colombo bourse fell with the ASPI down 1.06% and S&P SL20 down 1.14%, while net foreign inflow was Rs. 188.1 million. Banking led turnover (25%) and several stocks (SAMP, COMB, CINS, RICH, NDB) were top negative contributors; JKH, HHL and BIL recorded small gains.

Colombo bourse ended a four-week winning run as the ASPI fell 299 points to 16,049 (-1.83%) and the S&P SL20 dropped 2.24%; turnover was Rs.11.48bn and foreigners were net buyers of Rs.142m. Sampath, Commercial Bank, LOLC, Melstacorp and Hayleys were among the top negative contributors while JKH gained.

After a 26-day rally, the CSE reversed course: ASPI fell 299.13 pts to 16,049.42 and the S&P SL20 dropped 46.05 pts to 4,925.82. Turnover was Rs.11.48bn led by Browns Investments (Rs.1.03bn), John Keells (Rs.882m), HNB (Rs.401m), Sampath (Rs.350m) and LOLC (Rs.305m); 189 stocks closed lower.

Colombo Stock Market opened 2025 strongly as the ASPI rose 2.5% (404 pts) to top 16,000 on Rs.12.8bn turnover and net foreign inflow of Rs.88.6m, led by blue-chips and banking names such as JKH, Browns Investments, Aitken Spence, Sampath Bank and Hemas.

S&P SL20 rose past the 5,000 mark to 5,001.74, up 0.60% (29.87 points), while the ASPI was up 0.64% at 16,452. The rally is attributed to low interest rates, banks' excess liquidity making margin loans cheap, and positive banking-sector/debt-restructuring news.

Colombo Stock Exchange's ASPI rose 2.53% to 16,348.55 on Jan 2, 2025 (S&P SL20 up 2.26%), with banks and tourism-exposed stocks leading gains and a net foreign inflow of Rs 88.6 million.

Colombo Stock Exchange ended 2024 higher, with the ASPI up 0.74% at 15,944.61 and the S&P SL20 up 1.01% at 4,862.10. Turnover was Rs7.7bn, banks/diversified financials and capital goods drew the most interest, and there was a net foreign inflow of Rs129mn.

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.

Indra Silva bought a 1.6% voting stake in Hatton National Bank (HNB) for Rs. 2.2 billion. The purchase comprised 7.47m shares at Rs.298 via three crossings (seller Finco Holdings); HNB closed at Rs.301.50, up 2.64%.

Bank of Ceylon has been reappointed as the settlement bank for Sri Lanka’s USD Online and UITS systems for a further three-year term from 2024. The renewal reinforces BOC’s role in remittances and USD clearing infrastructure, affecting other domestic banks that use these systems.

ASPI rose 1.5% (232 pts) for a 22nd straight gain while the S&P SL20 is about 50% YTD, with turnover of Rs.7bn led by heavy activity in LOLC, HNB, SUN, SAMP and SPEN as T‑bill yields eased and retail participation rose.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up after the holiday: ASPI +1.53% (232.13 pts) at 15,400 and S&P SL20 +1.48% (67.15 pts) at 4,602, with turnover Rs7bn. Top positive contributors were LOLC Holdings, Hatton National Bank, Sunshine Holdings, Sampath Bank and Aitken Spence.

Siyapatha Finance PLC held Siyapatha Night 2024 on 16 Nov 2024 at Cinnamon Life with over 1,000 staff and launched the Siyapatha Finance Digital Academy. Siyapatha Finance is the largest subsidiary of Sampath Bank and has a Fitch National LT Rating of BBB+ (lka) with Stable Outlook.

Colombo market notched a 21st consecutive gain as the ASPI rose 1% (148 pts) to 15,168 on turnover of Rs.5.5bn, led by banking-sector activity; top contributors and heavy turnover included Hayleys, Central Finance, C T Holdings, Sampath, Richard Pieris, Commercial Bank, Royal Ceramics and Browns Investments.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher: ASPI up 0.98% (147.79 pts) to 15,168 and S&P SL20 up 0.82% to 4,535 on turnover of 5.4 billion rupees. Top contributors included Hayleys, Central Finance, C T Holdings and Sampath Bank, with a net foreign outflow of 94 million rupees.

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 1.42% (209.91 points) to 15,020.61, surpassing the 15,000 mark. Top contributors were LOLC, Hatton National Bank, Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank and Browns Investments amid Rs 8.44 billion turnover, Rs 43 million net foreign inflow and a Fitch rating upgrade cited as a confidence booster.

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.

Sampath Bank's fully owned subsidiary Siyapatha Finance PLC opened its 53rd branch in Homagama. The branch will offer leasing, loans, gold financing, deposits, factoring and Smart Pay services, and Siyapatha also ran local CSR activities including tree-planting and school donations.