The Colombo Stock Exchange closed essentially flat on Wednesday after most of the morning’s rally on US President Donald Trump’s indefinite Iran ceasefire extension faded by the end of trade.
The All Share Price Index ended up 0.06 percent, or 14.33 points, at 22,639.81 — trimmed from a morning gain of 0.27 percent at 22,686.34. The more liquid S&P SL20 index, which had opened up 0.22 percent, reversed to close down 0.14 percent, or 8.62 points, at 6,213.84.
Market turnover reached Rs. 5.25 billion, with the insurance sector leading at Rs. 1.77 billion, followed by Food, Beverage & Tobacco on Rs. 1.32 billion. Crossings were recorded in Ceylon Cold Stores, Asian Alliance Insurance Company, ACL Cables, Mercantile Investments and Finance and Ceylon Tobacco Company.
Top positive contributors to the ASPI were Central Finance Company, up 1.96 percent at Rs. 259.75; Janashakthi Insurance Company, up 9.02 percent at Rs. 4.40; and ACL Printers, up 1.89 percent at Rs. 156.00. Hatton National Bank, Hayleys and John Keells Holdings led the negative contributors.
The rupee weakened slightly, closing at 316.75/317.00 to the US dollar from 316.50/75 on Tuesday. Bond yields were broadly steady to slightly higher, with the 2026 bond at 8.60/75 percent, the 2027 at 8.90/95 percent, and the 2029 at 9.95/98 percent.
The fade reflects caution despite the ceasefire extension announced at Pakistan’s request, which removed the Wednesday expiry cliff but left the US naval blockade in place. Foreign investors ended a 21-session selling streak on Monday, signalling cautious re-engagement rather than conviction buying.
Separately, Hayleys PLC confirmed that its Rs. 9 billion rights issue was oversubscribed, with 55.24 million shares subscribed against the 45 million offered at Rs. 200 each — a final tally of Rs. 11.05 billion, around 23 percent above target. Brokers read the oversubscription as a blue-chip demand signal amid continuing geopolitical uncertainty.
