The Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower for a third consecutive session on Thursday (20), with both benchmark indices easing marginally amid continued selling across the broader market.
The All Share Price Index fell 10.95 points, or 0.05%, to 21,405.62. The more liquid S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index slipped about 1.1 points, or 0.02%, to end at 6,019.25.
The ASPI opened near 21,440 and briefly crossed 21,460 in early trade before buying momentum faded. Several intraday recovery attempts were undercut by renewed selling into the close, Daily Mirror reported.
Banks lead turnover
Total turnover was Rs. 1.50 billion on roughly 40.82 million shares. The Banks sector dominated activity with Rs. 490.64 million from about 3.61 million shares, and Seylan Bank recorded the highest turnover in the sector at some Rs. 149.04 million.
Crossings were comparatively light at about Rs. 109.90 million, or around 7% of equity turnover. John Keells Holdings accounted for the largest block activity, with two crossings totalling Rs. 89.10 million on 4.50 million shares at Rs. 19.80.
Foreign investors returned to the sell side, though modestly, with a net outflow of Rs. 24.79 million.
Market breadth stayed negative — 93 gainers against 121 decliners, an advance-decline ratio of 0.77 — indicating selling was broader than the small headline index moves suggested.
Movers
Melstacorp was the strongest positive contributor, adding 5.81 points, followed by Aitken Spence, Dialog Axiata and Central Finance. EconomyNext also listed Commercial Development Company among the gainers, up 2.71% at Rs. 37.90.
Sampath Bank was the largest drag, taking 17.68 points off the index, with Lion Brewery, Bukit Darah, John Keells Holdings and Citizens Development Business Finance also weighing. Both outlets recorded John Keells at Rs. 19.80, down 0.50%.
EconomyNext reported that Arcasia Investment & Trading and ATX Partners will open a voluntary offer on Friday for all ordinary shares of Industrial Asphalts (Ceylon) at 40 cents a share. The offer closes on September 12 and values the company’s 3.75 billion shares at about Rs. 1.5 billion. The counter spiked 16.7% ahead of the offer.
