The ASPI lost 0.33% on turnover well below its monthly norm, while Treasury yields held steady and the rupee edged firmer
Key Highlights
- The ASPI fell 68.26 points (0.33%) to 20,812.64.
- Turnover was LKR 873.4 million, about 41% below the monthly average.
- Foreign investors were net sellers by LKR 140.2 million.
- Secondary market Treasury yields were unchanged across all tenors.
- The rupee strengthened slightly to LKR 330.62 per US dollar.
Stock Market Summary
Colombo equities ended Friday lower. The All Share Price Index (ASPI) declined 0.33% to 20,812.64, while the S&P SL20 shed 18.15 points, or 0.31%, to 5,883.50. Market capitalisation eased 0.4% to LKR 7.53 trillion.
Trading was light. Turnover of LKR 873.4 million was 39.1% below Thursday’s level and well under the monthly average of LKR 1.5 billion. Share volume fell 54.2% to 29.9 million. Banking counters generated 28% of turnover, and SING was the largest single contributor at LKR 157 million.
Foreign investors sold LKR 183.7 million of shares and bought LKR 43.5 million, a net outflow of LKR 140.2 million. Net foreign outflows stand at LKR 234.4 million for the month and LKR 57.5 billion for the year to date.
Fixed Income Summary
The secondary Treasury bond market saw modest activity with yields broadly unchanged from the previous session. Bonds maturing in October and August 2030 traded between 11.15% and 11.20%, while the October 2034 maturity changed hands at 12.00%.
At the latest Treasury bill auction, the 91-day, 184-day and 364-day bills cleared at 9.25%, 9.41% and 9.95%, up 5, 4 and 2 basis points respectively.
Currency Market Update
The rupee closed at LKR 330.62 per US dollar, compared with LKR 330.70 earlier. It also gained against the British pound, euro, Chinese yuan and Australian dollar, and slipped marginally against the Japanese yen.
Business Impact
Low turnover means prices can move on modest orders, a point for companies planning share-based fundraising or buybacks. The steady yield curve gives borrowers and treasurers a stable reference for short-term funding costs. For importers and exporters, the rupee moved by only eight cents.
What to Watch Next
- Whether turnover returns above LKR 1 billion next week.
- Whether foreign net selling continues or eases.
- LKR 80.9 billion of Treasury bills maturing in the week ending 9 October, and the next auction results.
Key Numbers
| Indicator | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|
| ASPI | 20,812.64 | -68.26 pts (-0.33%) |
| S&P SL20 | 5,883.50 | -18.15 pts (-0.31%) |
| Turnover | LKR 873.4 Mn | -39.1% day on day |
| Market capitalisation | LKR 7,534.5 Bn | -0.4% |
| Net foreign flow | -LKR 140.2 Mn | Net outflow |
| 91-day bill (auction) | 9.25% | +5 bps |
| 364-day bill (auction) | 9.95% | +2 bps |
| USD/LKR | 330.62 | From 330.70 |
| Banking system liquidity | LKR 360.11 Bn | From LKR 355.13 Bn |
Source Attribution: Colombo Stock Exchange market data, Central Bank of Sri Lanka statistics and publicly available market information.