The Colombo Stock Exchange closed marginally lower on Tuesday, ending a four-session winning run for the All Share Price Index.

The ASPI shed 14.67 points, or 0.07 percent, to close at 21,402.80 — a figure reported identically by the Daily Mirror and EconomyNext. The benchmark opened firmer and traded above 21,450 early in the session before losing momentum, slipping under 21,400 around midday. A modest late recovery limited the day’s decline.

The index had closed at 21,370.09 on Friday, capping three straight sessions of gains at that point.

Turnover steady, foreigners still selling

Total market turnover was Rs. 1.52 billion on roughly 47.14 million shares. Crossings accounted for about Rs. 438.26 million, or some 29 percent of equity turnover, with Dialog Axiata recording the largest combined crossing activity at Rs. 130.83 million.

Dialog Axiata also posted the day’s highest single-counter turnover at Rs. 264.34 million from about 5.97 million shares, closing at Rs. 44.30.

Foreign investors remained net sellers, with an outflow of Rs. 356.19 million, continuing a recent pattern of foreign selling. Market breadth turned slightly negative — 95 gainers against 104 decliners, an advance-to-decline ratio of 0.91.

Hatton National Bank was the strongest positive contributor to the index, adding 8.47 points and closing 0.79 percent higher at Rs. 383.00. Richard Pieris, Melstacorp, Ceylinco Insurance non-voting and Carson Cumberbatch also lent support. Ceylinco Insurance made the largest negative contribution, taking 7.86 points off the ASPI, with Dialog Axiata, John Keells Holdings, SANASA Development Bank and C T Holdings also weighing on the market.

EconomyNext reported that Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka & Finance issued a clarification on its 2026 rights issue, putting the subscription level for additional shares at 333,951 rather than the 233,951 stated in an earlier announcement. The stock closed 4.76 percent higher at Rs. 11.00.

Where the two reports differ

The Daily Mirror and EconomyNext gave conflicting accounts of the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index. The Daily Mirror reported it down 2.36 points, or 0.04 percent, at 5,983.14; EconomyNext reported it up 2.12 points, or 0.04 percent, at 5,987.61. Both are internally consistent and both imply a Monday close of about 5,985.50, so the discrepancy is one of direction rather than level.

The two also differed on which sector led activity. The Daily Mirror put capital goods in front with Rs. 315.12 million in turnover — Hemas Holdings contributing Rs. 86.07 million — while EconomyNext reported diversified financials leading on Rs. 175 million, ahead of banks on Rs. 170.2 million.

The session amounted to a mild consolidation after four days of gains. Both the limited index decline and the weaker breadth pointed to a more cautious tone among investors.