News & market updates

Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 0.67% (104.32 pts) to 15,630.52 as apparel and export stocks fell while financial stocks gained. Teejay Lanka and Hayleys Fibre slid, while Central Finance, NDB and LOLC Finance were among gainers; several finance names saw high volumes.

SMB Finance PLC (SEMB.N0000) sold its 49% stake in associate Kenanga Investment Corporation Ltd — 4.9 million shares — to Corporate Capital Market Ltd for Rs. 41.7 million.

SMB Finance PLC sold 4.9 million shares (48.99% stake) in associate Kenanga Investment Corporation to Corporate Capital Market Ltd for 41.6 million rupees on March 25, 2025. The sale was disclosed in a stock exchange filing; SMB's voting stock closed at Rs 0.60 and non-voting at Rs 0.30.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 1.63% to 15,394.23 and the S&P SL20 fell 1.60% to 4,588.03. Top decliners included Ceylinco Insurance, HNB, Commercial Bank, DFCC and John Keells; turnover rose to 1.77bn rupees and Hayleys plans to raise up to 7bn via a debenture issue.

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.

The ASPI fell 2.3% for the first week of February despite a 1.38% rebound on Friday; weekly turnover averaged Rs.4.16bn and Friday turnover was Rs.2bn. Ceylinco, Melstacorp, John Keells and Aitken Spence were among Friday's top contributors, while Watawala, Seylan Bank and SMB Finance were key detractors.

Sri Lanka stocks fell 0.97% as the ASPI closed down 166.24 points at 16,956 and turnover was Rs3bn, the lowest so far this year. John Keells, Browns Investments and Tea Smallholder Factories announced interim dividends and net foreign outflow was Rs179mn with foreign selling in several large stocks.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up, with the All Share Index rising 0.03% to 10,574 and the S&P SL20 up 0.02% to 2,923. Top contributors included Royal Ceramics, National Development Bank and SMB Finance; turnover was Rs1.03bn with a net foreign inflow of 17 million.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down: ASPI fell 0.95% to 11,093 and S&P SL20 fell 1.26% to 3,148, with turnover at 513 million and net foreign inflow of 41.9 million. Top turnover generators included John Keells, Ceylon Cold Stores, Commercial Bank and Nations Trust; SMB Finance and Browns Investments were among gainers while several banks, Ceylon Cold Stores, L B Finance and Sigiriya were down.

Colombo bourse closed mixed: ASPI fell about 12 points to 11,482 while the S&P SL20 gained 2.6 points on turnover of Rs. 547 million, led by Sampath Bank (Rs.112m); banking stocks dominated turnover (32%) while front-line counters showed mixed performance.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down: ASPI fell 0.36% to 11,253 and S&P SL20 fell 0.43% to 3,210, with turnover Rs629mn. Top contributors included Sampath (up after stellar interim results and a Rs10bn debenture announcement), DFCC and SMB Finance, while several banks including HNB, NDB and Commercial Bank weighed on the index; net foreign inflow was Rs19mn.