The Colombo Stock Exchange opened sharply higher on Thursday, with the All Share Price Index up 2.17 per cent in early trade, extending a rally that has run through the week.
The ASPI was up 446.02 points at 20,987.14, while the more liquid S&P SL20 rose 2.51 per cent, or 146.42 points, to 5,981.51, EconomyNext reported from CSE data.
These are intraday figures taken shortly after the open, not a closing level. The Colombo market closes at about 2.30 p.m. local time, and the index may move before then. The previous session closed at 20,541.12.
What moved
| Gainers | Change | Price |
|---|---|---|
| LOLC Holdings | +6.06% | Rs. 398.00 |
| Hayleys | +3.95% | Rs. 230.00 |
| Dialog Axiata | +3.33% | Rs. 46.50 |
| Commercial Bank of Ceylon | +1.86% | Rs. 205.25 |
| Hatton National Bank | +1.30% | Rs. 390.00 |
The top negative contributors were SMB Finance, down 10.00 per cent at Rs. 0.90, First Capital Treasuries, down 0.80 per cent at Rs. 24.80, and Luminex, down 2.38 per cent at Rs. 8.20.
Market turnover was Rs. 2.44 billion, with the Materials industry group leading at Rs. 588.50 million.
Context
The advance continues a run that began at the start of the month. The index returned to positive territory on 3 November at 20,119 after two consecutive declines, then climbed above 20,500 on Wednesday. If Thursday’s opening gain holds, it would mark a fourth consecutive advance and the highest level the index has reached since it fell below 20,000 in mid-October.
The breadth is notable: banks, telecoms, diversified holdings and non-bank finance all contributed on the upside, rather than a single sector carrying the index.
Not reported
The filing gives no explanation for the move, no foreign-versus-local participation split, and no net foreign inflow or outflow figure. It does not state the number of advancing and declining counters, and carries no analyst comment on what is driving the rally.
