The Colombo Stock Exchange ended today’s session on a mixed note, with both indices fluctuating within a narrow range as investor sentiment remained cautious amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Iran–USA negotiations and rising global commodity prices.

Despite the subdued macro backdrop, market participation remained relatively active, with turnover sustaining above the LKR 3 Bn mark, supported by selective buying interest and strategic crossings.

Trading activity reflected a continued focus on fundamentally strong counters and value-driven opportunities, even as broader sentiment remained hesitant. The session also saw increased activity in selected stocks, helping to maintain overall market liquidity despite directional ambiguity.

The Diversified Financial sector dominated today’s turnover, recording LKR 0.52 Bn with 36.51 Mn shares traded. JXG.N was the key contributor within the sector, generating LKR 0.01 Bn in turnover with 6.96 Mn shares traded.

At the close, the ASPI edged up by 3.60 points (+0.02%) to 23,015.32, while the S&P SL20 declined by 5.71 points (-0.09%) to 6,294.31. Total market turnover stood at LKR 3.66 Bn, with share volume recorded at 158.61 Mn shares.

Crossings accounted for LKR 0.54 Bn, representing 17% of total turnover, with the largest crossing recorded in PKME.N amounting to LKR 0.15 Bn involving 0.93 Mn shares traded. Market breadth remained slightly negative, with 95 gainers against 110 decliners, indicating continued mild selling pressure.

On the positive side, MELS.N (+9.12 points) led index gains, followed by RIL.N, CARG.N, AEL.N, and CDB.N, which attracted notable investor interest. On the downside, NTB.N (-5.01 points) was the largest drag, while HHL.N, BIL.N, CARS.N, and ATL.N also weighed on overall sentiment.

Among notable trades, YORK.N recorded significant activity with LKR 0.11 Bn in turnover and 5.70 Mn shares traded, posting a price gain of 12.99%, reflecting selective investor accumulation in niche counters.