FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange recorded an increase of 0.43 percent on Tuesday, whereas the S&P SL20 index experienced a decline of 0.26 percent, according to data from the CSE.
The ASPI rose by 89.92 points, reaching a total of 21,156.10 points. In contrast, the S&P SL20 decreased by 15.62 points, settling at 5,888.48 points.
Analysts indicated that significant drops in Hatton National Bank and Commercial Bank shares, following the expiration of their dividends, contributed to the decline in the S&P SL20 index.
On a positive note, Melstacorp saw an increase of 1.64 percent, closing at 170.75 rupees. Sampath Bank rose by 0.86 percent to end at 146.50 rupees, while R I L Properties experienced an increase of 2.79 percent, closing at 25.80 rupees, making them the leading contributors to the ASPI’s growth.
Conversely, the major detractors included Hatton National Bank, which fell by 1.83 percent to 399.50 rupees, Central Finance Company, which decreased by 1.97 percent to 223.50 rupees, and LOLC Holdings, dropping 1.89 percent to 5.20 rupees.
The overall market turnover reached 3.57 billion rupees, with capital goods accounting for 452 million rupees of this figure.
In corporate news, Commercial Credit and Finance announced an interim dividend of 3 rupees per share, leading to a 3.86 percent increase in its share price, which closed at 114.25 rupees.
Additionally, People’s Leasing & Finance, a subsidiary of People’s Bank of Sri Lanka, reported the completion of a 10 billion rupee, five-year term loan facility arranged through the issuance of trust certificates on a private placement basis. Its shares increased by 0.45 percent, closing at 22.50 rupees.
On the global front, India’s Nifty50 index finished up by 0.065 percent at 22,694.25 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell by 0.70 percent, closing at 25,116.53 points.
