CSE ends in red, down 4.34% during week

Saturday, 7 March 2026 00:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ASPI movement during the week (Source: CSE)

The Colombo stock market yesterday ended the four-day week in red, weighed down by index-heavy banking and diversified holdings stocks.

This meant that the CSE failed to sustain a two-session rally following Tuesday’s record single-day plunge on panic selling induced by the Mideast conflict.

During the week, the ASPI declined 4.34% or 1,032.15 points and the S&P SL20 was down 4.14% or 275.22 points. Foreign investors were net sellers in the week on a net outflow of Rs.791.2 million.

Yesterday, the ASPI ended down 0.58% or 131.62 points at 22,701.91 and the S&PSL20 was down 1.01% or 65.05 points or 6,360.75. Turnover was over Rs. 5 billion on more than 196.4 million with foreign investors as net sellers on a net outflow of Rs. 826 million.

First Capital Research said the bourse started trading yesterday with a sharp decline in the morning, although prices recovered slightly around midday. Overall market remained mostly subdued throughout the afternoon.

Negative market breadth was mainly driven by declines in large-cap counters such as JKH, HNB, SAMP, HAYL and MELS which weighed heavily on overall market performance.

Retail investor participation remained moderate, while HNW investor activity was noteworthy, with off-board transactions accounting for 34.6% of total turnover, amounting to Rs. 1.7 billion, led by ACL (Rs. 727.1 million), CINS (Rs. 610.5 million) and RAL (Rs. 111.6 million).

The capital goods sector led daily turnover with a share of 31%, followed by the insurance, and diversified financials sectors collectively contributing 29%.

Asia Securities Research said the downward movement was primarily led by JKH, DOCK, HHL, HNB.N, SAMP, LOLC, and ACL.

Market turnover was led by ACL at Rs. 924 million, CINS at Rs. 624 million, and HVA at Rs. 226 million.

JKH (-31 points), HNB.N (-11 points), and SAMP (-10 points) were the largest laggards on the ASPI movement. Market breadth turned negative, as 80 counters were outweighed by 160 price decliners.