The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) closed 0.02 percent lower, weighed down by declines in diversified financial and capital goods shares, according to official data. The market experienced significant volatility throughout the trading day, resulting in both main indices ending in negative territory.
The All Share Price Index (ASPI) fell by 3.56 points to close at 22,329.69. The more liquid S&P SL20 index edged down by 0.01 percent, or 0.79 points, to 6,070.33.
Key stocks dragging the ASPI lower included Commercial Bank, which slipped by 1.50 rupees to close at 198.50 rupees, and DFCC Bank, down 2 rupees at 146 rupees. Richard Pieris and Company declined by 70 cents to 40.30 rupees, Bukit Darah lost 22 rupees to end at 1,012.00 rupees, and John Keells Holdings eased by 10 cents to 21.00 rupees.
Crossings were recorded in Capital Alliance Holdings, Prime Land Residencies, and Renuka Holdings during the session.
Market turnover rose to 3.3 billion rupees, up from 2.8 billion rupees in the previous session, with total share volume at 157,311,130.
Industrial Asphalts (Ceylon) emerged as the top loser of the day, despite ongoing investor interest in construction-related shares following the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Shares of Tokyo Cement gained 2 rupees to close at 108.25 rupees, Swisstek (Ceylon) rose by 70 cents to 96.80 rupees, and Chevron Lubricants Lanka increased by 1 rupee to 180.50 rupees.
The market saw a net foreign outflow of 130.44 million rupees.
In corporate news, Sri Lanka’s LOLC Finance announced the listing of 15 billion rupees worth of debentures with interest rates of 11.5 percent and 10.95 percent, according to a filing with the stock exchange.
Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) issued a public warning to be cautious of Bule Ocean Securities Limited and Gladius South Asia, citing scams targeting individuals interested in investing in the share market.
Across Asia, several equity markets experienced mixed performances. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index ended 0.26 percent higher at 49,512.28, despite what Japan’s Mainichi newspaper described as “directionless trading” amid uncertainty over the U.S. economy and future interest rate decisions by the Federal Reserve. Pakistan’s Karachi Stock Exchange 100 index rose by 0.01 percent to 170,465.91, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 0.96 percent to close at 25,468.78. In India, the Nifty 50 was down 0.16 percent at 25,818.55 and the Sensex fell 0.14 percent to 884,559.65.
As of 4:00 p.m. Sri Lankan time, spot gold was trading at 4,324.65 US dollars, up 0.50 percent for the day.
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