ECONOMYNEXT – The Colombo Stock Exchange closed down 0.7 percent on Wednesday, data on its site showed.
The broader ASPI closed down 0.70 percent, or 119.77 points, at 17,074.02; while the more liquid S&P SL20 Index closed down 0.82 percent, or 42.24 points, at 5,094.34.
Turnover was 3.6 billion rupees, while the share volume rose 1 percent to 134,476,823.
Top turnover generators were Dialog Axiata, Commercial Bank, Hemas Holdings, Hatton National Bank and John Keells Holdings (down at 22.20).
The indices rose steeply during early trade, then gradually declined, closing down.
Interest was seen in the risky asset market following Sri Lanka president’s budget presentation on Monday.
Investor interest was seen in bank stocks (992 million rupees) followed by the capital goods sector (659 million rupees) and telecommunications sector (650 million rupees).
Sampath Bank closed down at 123.00 rupees (126 million rupees in turnover), Commercial Bank closed down at 150.25 rupees (241 million rupees in turnover) while Hemas Holdings closed down at 122.00 rupees (209 million rupees in turnover) and Dialog closed flat at 14.00 rupees (650 million rupees in turnover).
Telecommunication stock, Dialog Axiata’s profit edged up 4.5 percent to 6.77 billion rupees in the last quarter of 2024, interim results showed.
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Sri Lanka’s Dialog Axiata profits edge up 4.5-pct in Dec quarter
There was a net foreign inflow of 307 million rupees.
Foreign buying was seen in Dialog, Ambeon Capital (up at 30.20 rupees), Sierra Cables (down at 18.00 rupees), Softlogic Life Insurance (down at 76.00 rupees), Hela Apparel (down at 5.00 rupees), and Browns Investments (down at 8.40 rupees).
Top foreign selling was seen in Commercial Bank, Hemas, Sampath Bank, HNB (down at 339.50 rupees), Dipped Products (down at 60.50 rupees), and LB Finance (down at 90.00 rupees).
LB Finance announced a first interim dividend per share of 2.25 rupees.
Top negative contributors to the ASPI were Ceylon Tobacco Company (ended 2.3 percent weaker at 1443.00), Sampath Bank (fell 1.2 to 123.00), NDB (down 2.0 percent at 122.75), Commercial Bank (closed down 1.0 percent at 150.25) and Hayleys (fell 1.7 percent at 143.00).
Hayleys Holdings reported a growth of 108 percent to 4.4 billion rupees in December quarter.
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Sri Lanka’s Hayleys profit up 108-pct in Dec quarter
Most active volumes were seen in Dialog Axiata at 46,432,248 (turnover 650,035,974.20 rupees), Hela Apparel at 15,893,146 (turnover 79,775,704.00 rupees), Browns Investment at 12,970,310 (turnover 109,263,953.80 rupees) and John Keells at 7,130,460 (turnover 157,916,564.00 rupees).
(Colombo/Feb19/2025)
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