Trading activity thinned sharply even as the ASPI and S&P SL20 posted gains for a third straight session, with daily turnover falling well short of recent norms.
Trading activity on the Colombo Stock Exchange thinned considerably in the latest session, with daily turnover falling well short of recent norms even as the market’s benchmark indices extended a run of gains.
Turnover for the session totalled LKR 1,078.02Mn, a decline of 37.7% against the monthly average of LKR 1.7Bn, and down 69.5% from the previous trading day. Trading volume similarly eased to 37.74Mn shares, extending a pullback from the 91.1Mn shares traded two sessions earlier.
The slowdown came despite the ASPI adding 49.81 points, or 0.24%, to close at 21,199.37, and the S&P SL20 gaining 13.25 points, or 0.22%, to finish at 5,945.87 — both indices holding their upward momentum for a third consecutive session.
Capital Goods was the leading contributor to turnover, accounting for a 29% share of activity, followed by the Banking and Food, Beverage & Tobacco sectors, which together contributed a further 36%. Among individual counters, John Keells Holdings (JKH) was the single largest contributor to both turnover and volume, accounting for 23% of turnover and 34% of volume for the session.
Foreign investors remained net sellers, with outflows of LKR 313.45Mn against inflows of LKR 124.83Mn, for a net outflow of LKR 188.62Mn. This extends a longer-running trend, with month-to-date net foreign outflows standing at LKR 3,190.2Mn and year-to-date outflows at LKR 37,298.2Mn.
Business Impact
Thinning turnover alongside index gains points to a narrower base of participation driving the market higher, with fewer counters and investors active in setting prices. For listed companies and investors, this concentration — both in sector terms (Capital Goods, Banking, and Food, Beverage & Tobacco accounting for 65% of turnover) and in single-stock terms (JKH alone at 23% of turnover) — is worth monitoring, as it can mean index-level moves are less broadly representative of overall market sentiment. Sustained foreign selling, now well into negative territory for the year, remains a factor to watch for its potential impact on market liquidity and currency-relevant capital flows.
Key Numbers
| Metric | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover | LKR 1,078.02Mn | -69.5% DoD / -37.7% vs monthly avg |
| Volume | 37.74Mn shares | -58.6% DoD |
| ASPI | 21,199.37 | +49.81 (+0.24%) |
| S&P SL20 | 5,945.87 | +13.25 (+0.22%) |
| Capital Goods Sector Share of Turnover | 29% | — |
| Banking + F&B Sector Share of Turnover | 36% | — |
| JKH Share of Turnover / Volume | 23% / 34% | — |
| Net Foreign Flow | -LKR 188.62Mn | MTD: -3,190.2Mn / YTD: -37,298.2Mn |
Source Attribution
Source: Colombo Stock Exchange market data and publicly available market information.