📉 CSE Logs 3rd Straight Session Loss Amid Selling Pressure
• Market Snapshot: Both key indices fell for a third consecutive day due to selling pressure, despite a partial recovery late in the session. • ASPI: Down 0.44% (99.57 pts) to 22,689.22. • S&P SL20: Down 0.84% (52.54 pts) to 6,203.09. • Turnover: Total turnover was Rs. 6.19 Bn, below the monthly average of Rs. 7.4 Bn, on over 211.8 million shares traded. • Foreign Activity: Foreign investors were net sellers, recording a net outflow of Rs. 42.48 Mn. • Sector & Stock Highlights: • The Capital Goods sector led market turnover (33%), driven by Colombo Dockyard (DOCK) and John Keells Holdings (JKH). • Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Banking sectors were the next highest contributors (jointly 21%). • Notable Gains: Colombo Dockyard (+21.60%), Lanka Realty Investments (+24.29%), and C M Holdings (+16.82%). • Key index negative contributors included JKH, Senkadagala Finance, and Sampath Bank. • Retail participation remained robust.
📉 CSE Indices Slip as Week Opens; Rs. 5.8 Bn Turnover
• Colombo Stock Exchange indices fell for the second consecutive session: ASPI was down 0.10% (22,788.79) and the active S&P SL20 fell 0.17%. • Market Turnover was robust at approximately Rs. 5.8 Billion. Over 306.8 million shares were traded. • Foreign Investors were Net Buyers, registering a net inflow of Rs. 176.5 million, despite subdued participation levels. • Capital Goods was the top contributor to turnover (driven by Colombo Dockyard & John Keells Holdings), followed by the Banking sector (DFCC Bank). Both sector indices edged down 0.01%. • Significant Price Gainers among top contributors: Healthcare stock Ceylon Hospitals soared +25.64% and Colombo Dockyard (DOCK) surged +24.20%. Ambeon Capital also appreciated by 3.56%. • The indices decline was primarily due to price losses in counters like C T Holdings, Central Finance Company, and Richard Pieris & Company. • Market breadth was negative, with 102 price gainers against 147 decliners. High net worth participation was noted in Ceylon Hospitals, John Keells Holdings, and DFCC Bank.
Secondary Bond Market Steady; Rupee Depreciates 📈
• The secondary Bond market kicked off the week on a steady, consolidating note with moderate overall activity. • Key Yields: Yields held broadly steady, with notable trades including the 01.06.26 maturity at 8.25%, 01.05.28 at 9.25%, and the long-dated 01.07.32 at 10.80%. • Total Treasury Bond/Bill transacted volume for October 24 was Rs. 11.73 Bn. • Money Market: Net liquidity surplus was recorded at Rs. 135.06 Bn. A total of Rs. 140.43 Bn was deposited at the Central Bank’s SDFR (7.25%). Weighted average rates were 7.89% for call money and 7.92% for repo. • Forex: The Rupee depreciated marginally, with the USD/LKR rate on spot contracts closing at Rs. 304.10/304.25 (vs. Rs. 303.70/303.85 the prior day). • Total USD/LKR traded volume for October 24 reached US$ 117.30 Mn.
📈 Foreign Holdings in Govt. Securities Surge to Highest Since Late 2023
• Foreign investment in Government securities (Treasury Bills and Bonds) has reached Rs. 130.96 Billion (Bn) as of 23 October. • This marks the highest level of foreign holdings recorded since 16 November 2023, indicating sustained overseas exposure to rupee-denominated debt. • Weekly Activity: Foreign investors were net purchasers during the week ending 23 October, recording an inflow of Rs. 606 Million (Mn). • Cumulative Inflows: Since 26 December 2024, the total cumulative inflows into Government Bills and Bonds have amounted to Rs. 61.7 Bn.
CSE Closes Marginally Up Amidst Rs. 9.2 Bn High Turnover 📈
• Market Indices: The All Share Price Index (ASPI) gained 0.26% (59.88 pts) to close at 22,850.95. However, the active S&P SL20 recorded a marginal loss of 0.13%. • Activity & Turnover: Market turnover was notably high at Rs. 9.2 Billion, approximately 24% above the monthly average, driven by strong High Net Worth (HNW) and institutional interest. • Foreign Flow: Foreign investors were net buyers, recording a net inflow of Rs. 13.8 Million. Net foreign buying topped in Hayleys PLC (HAYL) at Rs. 32.2 Mn. • Sector Performance: The Banking sector was the top contributor to turnover (22%), though its sector index lost 0.26%. The Capital Goods sector index gained 0.25%, with Colombo Dockyard appreciating 7.15%. • Key Movers: Investor sentiment was influenced by corporate announcements, including Hayleys PLC's entry into the supermarket industry (HAYL gained 3.0%). Bairaha Farms PLC surged 19.0% following a share subdivision announcement.
📈 Global Tech News: Samsung Shares Hit All-Time High
• Shares of South Korean memory chip giant Samsung Electronics surged as much as 2% on Thursday, hitting a record high on investor optimism surrounding the semiconductor industry. • The stock reached an all-time high of 96,900 won, surpassing the previous record of 96,800 won set in January 2021. • The company's stock has recorded an impressive Year-to-Date (YTD) increase of 80%. • Current trading value is approximately 95,900 won (US$ 67.52).
📈 CSE Market Cap Crosses Rs. 8 Trillion Mark Amid Real Returns Surge
• New Benchmark: The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) market capitalisation exceeded the Rs. 8 Trillion level for the first time, driven by a 40.48% gain Year-to-Date (YTD). • Exceptional Real Returns: The CBSL reports that the inflation-adjusted equity market delivered an average real return of 65.1% up to August 2025, compared to 24.8% in 2024. • Trading Activity: Average daily turnover saw a significant jump, climbing to Rs. 4.84 billion in the first eight months of 2025—more than double the Rs. 2.24 billion recorded in 2024. • Upside Potential: The Price-to-Earnings (PE) ratio stands at 9.81, which the CBSL notes is still below the long-term average of 12.13, indicating room for further growth. • Key Drivers: Strong performance is attributed to continued disinflation, robust dividend pay outs, and improved macroeconomic stability.