Colombo, Sri Lanka – October 2, 2026 – The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) ended its trading day on Friday, October 2, 2026, with key indices registering marginal declines. Despite a total turnover of nearly Rs. 873.4 million, the market observed a notable net foreign outflow, indicating continued cautious sentiment among international investors.
Index Performance Reflects Slight Downward Trend
The bellwether All Share Price Index (ASPI) saw a downturn, shedding 68.26 points, or 0.33%, to close at 20,812.64. Similarly, the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index, which tracks the twenty most liquid and highest market capitalization companies, also experienced a dip, decreasing by 18.15 points, a 0.31% fall, to settle at 5,883.50. Year-to-date figures show both indices remaining in negative territory, with ASPI down 8.01% and S&P SL20 down 4.45%.
Turnover and Investor Activity Overview
Total turnover for the day stood at an approximate Rs. 873.38 million (Equity) and Rs. 5,390.30 (Funds), indicating moderate trading activity. Market capitalization amounted to Rs. 7,534.53 billion. Local investors dominated trading, with domestic purchases reaching Rs. 829.92 million and domestic sales at Rs. 689.71 million. However, foreign investors registered a net outflow of Rs. 140.21 million, with foreign purchases at Rs. 43.46 million against sales of Rs. 183.67 million. The total volume of shares traded was 29.94 million across 10,591 trades.
Key Market Multiples
Key market multiples reflected the prevailing valuations: the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio was recorded at 10.76x, the Price-to-Book Value (P/BV) ratio at 1.24x, and the Dividend Yield (DY) stood at 3.19%.
Top Movers on Friday
Standard Capital PLC (SING.N0000) emerged as the day’s top gainer, recording an impressive 21.37% increase, with its price rising by Rs. 7.80 to Rs. 44.30. Other notable gainers included:
- TESS AGRO (TESS.X0000): +7.14%
- HUNAS HOLDINGS (HUNA.N0000): +6.25%
- LANKEM CEYLON (LCEY.N0000): +5.75%
- KERNER HAUS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS PLC (CPRT.N0000): +5.44%
Conversely, S M B Finance PLC (SEMB.X0000) was the top loser, experiencing a significant 25.00% decline, with its price dropping by Rs. 0.10 to Rs. 0.30. Other prominent losers included:
- S M B FINANCE PLC (SEMB.N0000): -8.33%
- CITRUS WASKADUWA (CITW.N0000): -6.25%
- RENUKA FOODS (COCO.X0000): -5.19%
- MYLAND (MDL-N-0000): -5.05%
Sectoral Insights
In terms of sectoral performance, the Telecommunication Services sector continued its strong year-to-date return at 46%, followed by Commercial & Professional Services at 24% and Real Estate Management & Development at 16%. On the day, several sectors showed varied performance, with Diversified Financials leading in turnover, while Banks and Capital Goods also saw significant activity.
Corporate Announcements and Events
Friday, October 2, 2026, also marked several key corporate events. Agarapatana Plantations PLC, Dialog Axiata PLC, and Kerner Haus Global Solutions PLC held Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) virtually. Several companies, including Mahaweli Coconut Plantations PLC, Lake House Printers and Publishers PLC, and ACL Cables PLC, declared cash dividends with upcoming payment dates. Additionally, Kerner Haus Global Solutions PLC and Singer Finance (Lanka) PLC announced important dates related to their Right Issues.
The CSE’s performance on October 2, 2026, signals a day of minor corrections, with indices dipping slightly. The persistent net foreign outflow suggests that while domestic investors remain active, international confidence might still be somewhat subdued, as global markets present mixed signals.
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