CSE ends on the up, down 1.2% during week

Friday, 3 April 2026 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Colombo stock market started the new months and ended the week on the up amid subdued activity levels. The market is closed today due to the Good Friday banking holiday.

During the week, the ASPI declined 1.2% or 258.31 and the S&P SL20 was down 2% or 124.30 points.

Yesterday, the ASPI ended up 0.24% or 51.24 points at 21,117.42 while the S&P SL20 was down 0.48% or 28.41 points at 5,875.69.

Both turnover and volume were relatively lower. Market turnover was a nearly Rs. 1.77 billion on over 64.1 million shares traded. Foreigners were net sellers on a net outflow of Rs. 68.2 million.

Asia Securities said SINS (+2.6%), DOCK (+1.8%), HHL (+1.0%), SAMP (+0.9%) and ACL (+0.7%) closed higher while HNB.N (-2.7%), BIL (-1.6%), COMB.N (-1.2%), PABC (-1.0%), and CCS (-0.7%) ended in red during the session.

Market turnover was mainly supported by TKYO.N (Rs. 205 million), JKH (Rs. 132 million) and ACL (Rs. 100 million). MELS (+13 points), SAMP (+9 points), and RIL (+5 points) emerged as the key contributors to the index performance for the day while HNB.N (-20 points) and HNB.X (-15 points) ended as the biggest laggard on the ASPI. Market breadth emerged positive, with 139 price gainers and 84 decliners.

The capital goods, banks, materials and food beverage and tobacco sectors led activity, collectively accounting for 68.2% of turnover.

Net foreign buying topped in DFCC.N at Rs. 13.7 million while net foreign selling topped in ATL.N at Rs. 29.6 million. Crossings accounted for 21.4% of turnover led by TKYO.N at Rs. 88.9 million, LIOC.N Rs. 70.5 million, and JKH.N Rs. 43.7million. Market P/E was 10.68.

First Capital Research said the S&P SL20 decline was primarily weighed down by ex–dividend adjustments in major banking counters while MELS, CARG, SAMP, CTHR, and RIL emerged as the key drivers behind the ASPI’s upward movement.

Market participation was observed at a lower level. Market breadth remained positive, with 138 gainers outpacing 83 decliners. The capital goods sector led the daily turnover with a share of 26%, followed by the banking and materials sectors collectively contributing 33%.