Colombo Dockyard saw renewed positive momentum on Tuesday, contributing to a 0.13 percent gain in the Colombo Stock Exchange All Share Price Index (ASPI), according to data published on the exchange’s website.
The ASPI advanced by 28.80 points to close at 21,927.00. In contrast, the more liquid S&P SL20 index dipped slightly by 0.05 percent, or 3.05 points, ending the day at 6,011.31.
Key contributors to the ASPI’s rise included Colombo Dockyard, which increased by 20 rupees to close at 127.00 rupees. Other notable gainers were Richard Pieris & Company, up 1.40 rupees at 40.00 rupees; Sampath Bank, up 75 cents at 141.75 rupees; John Keells, up 10 cents at 21.00 rupees; and Cargills (Ceylon), which rose 6.72 rupees to finish at 768.00 rupees.
Construction-related shares saw positive sentiment following reports that Cyclone Ditwah had caused approximately 4.1 billion US dollars in damages. Among these, Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) non-voting shares increased by 50 cents to 92.50 rupees, Sierra Cables closed 10 cents higher at 31.60 rupees, and Lanka Ceramics added 4 rupees to close at 175.00 rupees.
Market turnover declined to 2.5 billion rupees, compared to 2.7 billion rupees in the previous session. A total of 102,284,356 shares changed hands in 23,953 trades during the day.
The Colombo Stock Exchange recorded a net foreign outflow of 68.58 million rupees. John Keells saw a significant outflow of 143.3 billion rupees, while Hemas Holdings reported an outflow of 34 million rupees.
Elsewhere in the region, equity markets closed on a mixed note. According to The Economic Times, foreign investors have acquired 644 million US dollars’ worth of Indian stocks over the past two months. India’s Nifty 50 index was up 0.018 percent at 26,177.15, while the Sensex index edged down 0.050 percent to 85,524.84.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index ended marginally higher, closing up 0.02 percent at 50,412.87 after a session characterized by directionless trading. According to Japan’s Mainichi newspaper, the index was weighed down by selling in exporter stocks due to the appreciation of the yen, which reduces overseas profits when repatriated.
In other Asian markets, Pakistan’s Karachi Stock Exchange 100 index slipped 0.08 percent to 171,073.73. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index ended 0.11 percent lower at 25,774.14, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index (STI) rose by 0.62 percent, or 28.68 points, to close at 4,638.97.
As of 4:15 pm Sri Lankan time, spot gold was trading at 4,486.42 US dollars, marking a 1.21 percent increase.
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