News & market updates

Union Bank of Colombo (UBC.N0000) reported 1H 2026 PBT of Rs. 881 million, up 84% y/y, and PAT of Rs. 587 million, up 134%; gross income rose 19% to Rs. 10,139m and total assets grew 15% to Rs. 199,283m.

Union Bank of Colombo reported PBT of LKR 881 Mn in 1H 2026 (up 84% YoY) and PAT of LKR 587 Mn (up 134% YoY). Group PBT was LKR 997 Mn, total assets rose 15% to LKR 199,283 Mn, and income included LKR 249 Mn from sale of shares in subsidiary UB Finance.

ASPI fell 0.29% to 21,145.73 while the S&P SL20 rose 0.03% to 5,945.01; turnover exceeded Rs.3.2bn with foreign net inflow of Rs.79.8mn and a Rs.2.3bn crossing in Cargills driving volume. Negative contributors included CINS, COMB, RICH, CARS and HARI; Melstacorp, NTB and HNB were also active.

Colombo's ASPI fell 1.7% this week while turnover hit a 65-week low of about Rs. 722.64 million; top drags on the index included John Keells (JKH), PKME and NDB. Banking led turnover (notably Sampath Bank) and activity was concentrated in capital goods, food & beverage and energy names.

Union Bank CEO Dilshan Rodrigo said SMEs are understating revenues and profits—banks often reconstruct financials and find turnover about 40% higher—hindering cash-flow lending. He urged stronger audit standards, independent SME credit ratings and deeper capital markets for long-term SME finance.

Colombo market opened down 0.65% as the ASPI fell 146.53 points to 22,263.28 with turnover over Rs.1.7bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.466.1m; Windforce, CIC and Hayleys were main negative contributors while Windforce, Colombo Dockyard and Sathosa Motors led turnover.

Colombo bourse finished the week higher, with the ASPI up 0.21% and the S&P SL20 up 0.51%; yesterday ASPI closed at 22,409.81 and the S&P SL20 at 6,247.42. Turnover topped Rs.1.9bn with foreign net inflow of Rs.9.3m; COCR, PKME and SIL led turnover while ACL fell and Hayleys, HNB Finance, Lanka Realty and CIC posted gains.

Fitch says Sri Lanka's central bank tighter capital rules for gold-backed loans (10% risk weight for LTV<70% from 1 Sep) will be manageable for banks but hit finance companies harder; Asia Asset Finance, L B Finance, UB Finance, HNB Finance and MBSL face the largest capital impacts.

Fitch says Sri Lanka’s new risk weights for gold loans (10% for <70% LTV; 40% for 70–100% LTV; 100% for >100% LTV) will raise average risk density to ~12% for banks and ~26% for finance firms and could cut finance companies’ Tier‑1 ratios by ~1pp to a little over 5pp, with Asia Asset Finance most affected.

Fitch says the CBCSL directive raising risk weights on gold-backed loans will raise average risk density to ~12% for rated banks and ~26% for finance companies, cutting banks' CET1 by ~2–35bp and finance companies' Tier‑1 by about 1pp–>5pp. Asia Asset Finance, L B Finance, UB Finance, HNB Finance and MBSL are singled out as most affected.

Union Bank of Colombo (UBC.N0000) reported 1Q 2026 PBT of Rs. 465m (up 260%) and PAT of Rs. 334m (up 570%). Gross income rose 24% to Rs. 4.9bn with NII of Rs. 1,649m; sale of UB Finance shares added Rs. 213m and a Rs. 3bn debenture strengthened Tier II capital.

Colombo posted its biggest monthly gain since July 2025, with the ASPI up 7% and the S&P SL20 up 5.1% in April, with average daily turnover of Rs.3.66bn. Yesterday the indices fell (ASPI -0.38% to 22,550) on losses in John Keells, Sampath and Commercial Bank amid net foreign outflows of Rs.75mn.

Union Bank of Colombo reported 1Q2026 PBT of LKR 465 million (up 260%) and PAT of LKR 334 million (up 570% y/y). Gross income rose 24% to LKR 4.9bn, total assets grew 9% to LKR 188.7bn, and LKR 213m of other income came from the sale of shares in subsidiary UB Finance.

The ASPI rose 1.13% to 22,833.53 as Colombo stock market extended its rebound in a second session, with turnover near Rs.5.7bn and foreign net inflows of Rs.189.4m. Gains were led by John Keells, DFCC, NDB and Commercial Bank, with HNB Finance among top turnover contributors.

Union Bank of Colombo reported group Profit Before Taxes of Rs.2.2 billion for FY2025 and doubled PAT to Rs.660 million. Gross income rose to Rs.18.2bn, NII Rs.5,638mn, net loans up 36% to Rs.110.8bn, deposits up 15% to Rs.118.8bn and total capital ratio 13.2%.

Union Bank of Colombo reported group Profit Before All Taxes of LKR 2.2 Bn and doubled PAT to LKR 660 Mn in FY2025. Net loans rose 36% to LKR 110.8 Bn, deposits grew 15% to LKR 118.8 Bn, total assets increased 19% to LKR 184.8 Bn and capital ratio was 13.2%.

The Colombo market ended marginally higher — ASPI +0.02% to 23,655.68 — on turnover of Rs.3.35 billion with foreign net outflows of Rs.64 million. Top positive contributors included NHL, CFIN, CARG, JKH and LLUB, while Samson International, UB Finance and Sierra Cables led turnover.

Colombo market recovered as the ASPI rose 0.22% (52.82 pts) to 23,734.50, driven by high-net-worth crossings that made up 49.4% of turnover (COMB contributed Rs.3.2bn); market turnover was Rs.8.24bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.1.3bn.

ASPI ended marginally up at 23,960.16 (+0.03%) on turnover of over Rs.5.2bn. Capital goods led turnover (31%) driven by Colombo Dockyard and John Keells, while diversified financials and banks contributed 21% and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.128.2m.

Colombo market opened lower as the ASPI fell 0.19% (45.79 pts) to 23,608.51 on turnover of Rs.5.2 billion and a net foreign outflow of Rs.35.4 million. The session saw selling pressure weighing on DOCK, RICH and banks (HNB, SAMP) while JKH, RCL, COMB and PLR were among notable buying/turnover contributors.

Colombo market closed flat as the ASPI slipped 0.02% to 22,329.69 with turnover of Rs. 3.32 billion; top negatives were Commercial Bank, DFCC, Richard Pieris, Bukit Darah and John Keells while Carson Cumberbatch, Browns Investments and LOLC Finance provided support.

Colombo market recovered as the ASPI rose 0.17% (38.48 pts) to 22,333.25 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.31% to 6,071.12. Turnover was Rs 2.85bn on ~77.2m shares with foreign net outflows of Rs 42.8m; top contributors included DOCK, COMB, SAMP, MELS and DFCC.

UB Finance PLC appointed veteran banker Sabry Ghouse as Chairman of the Board effective 6 November. He has served as a Senior Director since November 2021 and brings over 30 years of banking experience.

UB Finance PLC appointed Sabry Ghouse as chairman with effect from November 6. He is a former Director of the Credit Information Bureau, was Deputy Chairman of Union Bank of Colombo until August 2021 and has been appointed a Director of People’s Bank.

The ASPI briefly crossed an all-time high of 23,000 before dipping and closed at 22,953.49, up 0.11% (25.18 points). Turnover topped Rs.4.4bn with net foreign outflows of ~Rs.485.4m and heavy participation in counters including Aitken Spence, Colombo Dockyard, Sunshine and Commercial Bank.

Colombo market fell for a third straight session, with the ASPI down 0.44% to 22,689.22 and the S&P SL20 down 0.84%; turnover was Rs. 6.19bn and foreigners were net sellers of Rs. 42.48m. Major movers included declines in JKH, SFCL and SAMP, while DOCK, COLO, ASCO and LGL posted notable gains.

Colombo market opened lower as the ASPI fell 0.10% to 22,788.79; major movers included Colombo Dockyard (DOCK +24.20%) and Ceylon Hospitals (CHL +25.64%), while C T Holdings, Central Finance and Richard Pieris were among the session's laggards.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 0.56% (123.87 pts) to 22,416.15 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.45% on turnover of around Rs. 8.9bn, with foreigners net selling Rs. 1.4bn. Hemas, Sampath, Vidullanka, Richard Pieris and DIMO were key positive contributors while banking stocks led turnover.