News

MARKET AT CSE FALLS LOWER AFTER EARLY GAINS

Early gains fade as market ends slightly lower in choppy session

The Colombo Stock Exchange witnessed a volatile session today, where early optimism quickly faded into mild selling pressure by the close. The market opened on a positive note, with the ASPI rising by 66 points within the first 15 minutes of trading, supported by active participation and turnover exceeding LKR 400 Mn during the early session. However, the momentum was not sustained, and the index gradually slipped into negative territory as the session progressed, eventually closing slightly lower.

Overall sentiment remained cautious, with investors focusing on selective opportunities amid ongoing uncertainty. Total participation reflected this cautious tone, with turnover supported primarily by stock-specific interest linked to anticipated quarterly earnings and strong individual corporate performances.The Capital Goods sector led today’s market turnover, recording LKR 0.93 Bn with 20.14 Mn shares traded. RHL.N was the key contributor within the sector, generating LKR 0.28 Bn in turnover with 5.27 Mn shares traded.

At the close, the ASPI declined by 20.79 points (-0.09%) to 22,899.53, while the S&P SL20 fell by 2.15 points (-0.03%) to 6,267.26. Total market turnover stood at LKR 2.61 Bn, with share volume recorded at 180.86 Mn shares.

Crossings accounted for LKR 0.47 Bn, representing 18% of total turnover, with the largest crossing recorded in RHL.N amounting to LKR 0.28 Bn involving 5.25 Mn shares traded. Market breadth remained weak, with 80 gainers against 130 decliners, indicating continued selling pressure across the broader market.On the positive side, JKH.N (+10.69 points) led index support, followed by DFCC.N, ALUM.N, LGL.N, and NTB.N. On the downside, DIAL.N (-5.66 points) was the main drag, while HHL.N, HNB.N, LOLC.N, and DOCK.N also weighed on overall sentiment.

Among notable trades, CPRT.N recorded notable activity with LKR 0.04 Bn in turnover and 1.06 Mn shares traded, posting a strong price gain of 24.94%, highlighting selective investor interest despite the broader market weakness.