COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – 28 September 2026 – The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) concluded trading today, Monday, 28 September 2026, on a subdued note, with both key indices registering declines. The market witnessed moderate turnover amidst a cautious trading environment, as investors reacted to a blend of local and international developments.
Index Performance: A Day in the Red
The All Share Price Index (ASPI) experienced a downturn, closing at 20,943.79, marking a decrease of 93.56 points or 0.44% from its previous close of 21,037.35. The year-to-date (YTD) return for the ASPI now stands at -7.43%, reflecting ongoing challenges. Similarly, the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index (S&P SL20) also recorded a decline, shedding 20.01 points (-0.34%) to settle at 5,920.72. Its YTD performance shows a decrease of 3.84%.
Intra-day charts for both indices displayed fluctuating trends, indicating a lack of sustained upward momentum throughout the trading session.
Turnover and Investor Activity Overview
The total equity turnover for the day reached approximately Rs. 595.97 million (Rs. 595,970,127.75), signifying a moderate level of activity. The market capitalization for equity closed at Rs. 7,587,989,013,942.00, reflecting a daily change of -0.48%.
Investor composition for the day showed a positive net foreign inflow:
- Domestic Purchases: Rs. 585,102,459.40
- Domestic Sales: Rs. 592,996,229.25
- Foreign Purchases: Rs. 10,867,668.35
- Foreign Sales: Rs. 2,973,898.50
- Net Foreign Flow: Rs. 7,893,769.85 (positive)
The market saw 266 companies traded out of 289 listed, with a total of 13,503 trades executed.
Market Multiples and Key Contributors
Key market multiples were reported as follows: Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio at 10.84x, Price-to-Book Value (P/BV) at 1.25x, and Dividend Yield (DY) at 3.17%.
Driving the ASPI’s negative trajectory were major negative contributors such as CARSONS, DIALOG, and COMMERCIAL BANK. Conversely, DISTILLERIES, CEYLON TOBACCO, and HAYLEYS provided some positive contribution to the index.
In terms of market capitalization, Dialog Axiata PLC, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, and Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC remained the top three contributors. For total turnover, John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB), and Haycarb PLC (HAYCARB) led the way.
Top Gainers and Losers
The day’s trading saw a mix of strong performances and significant declines:
Top 10 Gainers:
- EX-PACK (PACK-N): +5.83%
- ROYAL PALMS (RPBH.N): +4.22%
- DURDANS (CHL.X): +3.97%
- COLOMBO CITY (PHAR.N): +3.53%
- MYLAND (MDL-N): +3.17%
- BROWNS (BRWN.N): +3.16%
- HAYLEYS LEISURE (CONN.N): +2.80%
- ODEL PLC (ODEL.N): +2.78%
- SWISSTEK (PARQ.N): +2.67%
- SEYLAN DEVTS (CSD.N): +2.51%
Top 10 Losers:
- INDUSTRIAL ASPH. (ASPH.N): -14.29%
- ACME (ACME.N): -10.00%
- S M B FINANCE (SEMB.N): -9.09%
- YORK ARCADE (YORK.N): -9.02%
- RENUKA FOODS (COCO.N): -5.74%
- TAL LANKA (TAJ.N): -5.72%
- JOHN KEELLS (JKL.N): -5.61%
- TESS AGRO (TESS.N): -5.56%
- LANKA ASHOK (ASHO.N): -5.46%
- RADIANT GEMS (RGEM.N): -5.24%
Sectoral Performance and Economic Indicators
In terms of year-to-date returns, the Telecommunication Services sector has shown the strongest performance at 47%, followed by Commercial & Professional Services (26%) and Real Estate Management & Development (18%).
The report also included the latest available economic indicators: The Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) stood at 7.20%, and the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) at 5.10%. The indicative exchange rate for USD against LKR was 330.26. Key interest rates included a Monthly Rate of 10.88%, Weekly Rate of 10.94%, and a Policy Rate (OPR) of 8.75%. Crude Oil Brent price was reported at $98.54, while Gold Price (USD) stood at 1,391,962.00, as per the report.
Global Market Overview and News
The global market overview presented in the report indicated mixed performances across different regions. In APAC frontier markets, Bangladesh (-0.8%), Vietnam (-0.3%), Pakistan (-0.1%), and Sri Lanka (-0.4%) all registered daily declines. Emerging markets in APAC largely saw negative movements, with South Korea’s KOSPI dropping 2.7% and China’s indices also declining. Developed markets in APAC also experienced varied results, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 down 0.9%, while Singapore and Australia posted slight gains.
Significant global news influencing sentiment included the unveiling of “30-for-30” tariff reduction lists by the US and China, ongoing tensions with Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz, and T. Rowe Price’s use of climate models to hedge emerging market portfolios against El Niño impacts. Corporate news saw Australia’s biggest gold miner, Northern Star Resources, reject a $27.7 billion offer from Gold Fields, opting for organic growth. Additionally, discussions are underway for China to potentially allow firms like Alibaba and ByteDance to acquire Nvidia RTX Pro 5500 chips, offering a potential AI boost for China’s tech stocks.
Corporate Announcements for the Day
Several corporate announcements were disclosed today, including updates on Right Issues for companies like Kerner Haus Global Solutions PLC and Singer Finance (Lanka) PLC. Details were also provided on Scrip Dividends (e.g., Renuka Agri Foods PLC, Renuka Foods PLC) and Cash Dividends (e.g., Mahaweli Coconut Plantations PLC, Abans Electricals PLC). Furthermore, a number of companies held or scheduled Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs), signaling ongoing corporate governance activities and strategic decisions.
