The Colombo Stock Exchange commenced today’s session on a positive note, supported by encouraging quarterly earnings released by several listed companies, which helped boost investor sentiment and push the indices higher during early trading. The ASPI gained over 78 points during the session as buying interest emerged across selected counters. However, profit-taking activities later weighed on the market, erasing most of the gains and leading the session to conclude at a near-flat level.

Despite the late-session pullback, overall sentiment remained moderately positive, with value investor participation continuing to support market activity. Investors remained focused on fundamentally strong counters and earnings-driven opportunities, while selective buying interest was observed across several blue-chip stocks.The Capital Goods sector dominated today’s market turnover, recording LKR 1.07 Bn with 40.61 Mn shares traded. JKH.N emerged as the top contributor within the sector, generating LKR 0.45 Bn in turnover with 22.36 Mn shares traded.

At the close, the ASPI edged up by 6.22 points (+0.03%) to settle at 22,905.75, while the S&P SL20 gained 13.88 points (+0.22%) to close at 6,281.14. Total market turnover stood at LKR 2.84 Bn, with share volume recorded at 114.61 Mn shares.Crossings accounted for LKR 0.90 Bn, representing 31% of total turnover, with the largest crossing recorded in JKH.N amounting to LKR 0.41 Bn involving 20.00 Mn shares traded. Market breadth remained slightly weak, with 78 gainers against 118 decliners, indicating continued selling pressure despite the positive close.On the positive side, DIAL.N (+32.54 points) led index gains, followed by HAYL.N, COMB.N, HUNT.N, and HAYC.N. On the downside, CINS.N (-15.13 points) emerged as the main drag, while RICH.N, NTB.N, CFIN.N, and DIMO.N also weighed on the index.

Among notable trades, DIAL.N recorded significant activity with LKR 0.08 Bn in turnover and 2.17 Mn shares traded, posting a price gain of 6.25%, reflecting renewed investor interest following positive developments in the counter.