ECONOMYNEXT – The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) rose 0.43 percent on Wednesday, pushed up by Dialog Axiata, bank and capital goods stocks, data on its site showed.
The broader All Share Price Index gained 100.90 points to close at 23,708.70 as it gradually rose throughout the session.
Meanwhile, the more liquid S&P SL20 ended 0.98 percent, or 63.65 points, at 6,558.41.
Crossings on Dialog Axiata, Sampath Bank and Cargills (Ceylon) boosted the indices.
Alongside Dialog Axiata (up 1.70 rupees at 33.60), Melstacorp (up 4.50 rupees at 180), NTB (up 14.25 rupees at 351.75), Lanka IOC (up 7 at 144.25 rupees), and Hayleys (up 3.25 rupees at 210.25) pushed the ASPI to close higher in the session.
Market turnover rose to 9.2 billion rupees from the previous session’s 4.9 billion rupees. Significant contributors were capital goods (Rs1.4bn), banks (Rs1.2bn), and Telcos (Rs1.7bn).
Share volume was 326,231,650 with 49,537 trades recorded in the session.
In the region, equity markets ended the session on a mixed note on Monday.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index surpassed the 54,000 mark for the first time following aggressive fiscal policy optimism, Japan’s The Mainachi newspaper said.
“The Nikkei index surpassing 54,000 amid optimism that a victory for the ruling bloc in a possible snap election would bolster Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s aggressive fiscal policies,” The Mainachi newspaper said.
The index gained 1.48 percent to close at 54,341.23.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose to a decade high ending 0.56 percent stronger at 26,999.81.
“Hong Kong stocks closed just shy of the 27,000-point level on Wednesday, tracking the performance of the mainland market after China’s three major exchanges raised margin requirements,” The Standard said.
Meanwhile, India’s Nifty 50 was trading 0.24 percent weaker at 25,670.70 while the Sensex index down 0.26 percent to close at 83,413.18.
Pakistan’s Karachi Stock Exchange 100 index fell 0.55 percent to 182,935.89.
Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) traded 0.11 percent or 5.380 points higher to close at 4,812.510.
As at 3.20 pm Sri Lankan time, spot gold was trading at 4,637.27 US dollars, up 7.51 percent in the last 30 days. (Colombo/Jan14/2026)
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