CSE snaps three-month losing streak in August, down 5.7% YTD

Tuesday, 1 September 2026 03:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ASPI gains 0.99%; S&P SL20 up 1.17%
First monthly gain for both indices since April
August rebound follows sharp July losses

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) returned to positive territory in August, with both benchmark indices posting their first monthly gains since April, snapping three consecutive months of declines.

Year-to-date, the ASPI had declined 5.68% and the active S&P SL20 was down 2.4%.

The ASPI gained 0.99% during August, while the S&P SL20 rose 1.17%, reversing part of July’s 5.09% and 4.27% losses, respectively.

The rebound follows a weak three-month stretch from May through July for the ASPI, while the S&P SL20 declined in May and July with only a marginal 0.75% gain in June.

The August gains nevertheless remain modest compared with the swings seen earlier in the year, when both indices rose strongly in January and April but suffered their steepest monthly declines in March.

The trend marks a contrast with the second half of 2025, when the ASPI recorded six consecutive monthly gains from July through December.