Sri Lanka stocks closed a volatile session on Tuesday with the All Share Price Index (ASPI) effectively flat while the more liquid S&P SL20 declined, as market participants digested mixed local movers and weak regional cues. The session saw turnover of LKR 5.68 billion and volatile volume trends, underscoring investor caution.
Sri Lanka stocks trade mixed as ASPI holds steady and S&P SL20 falls; turnover at LKR 5.68 billion
Sri Lanka stocks ended a choppy trading day with the broader ASPI finishing essentially unchanged at 22,321.08, up 2.36 points, while the S&P SL20 fell 0.30 percent to close at 6,207.37. Market turnover reached 5.68 billion rupees and share volume moderated from Friday’s levels, reflecting a session dominated by selective buying and profit-taking across major names. Top contributors to the ASPI included Dialog Axiata, CT Holdings, Mercantile Investments and Finance, Ambeon Holdings and Harischandra Mills, with Mercantile Investments and Finance posting the largest single-day gain among listed firms. The session’s divergence — a flat ASPI alongside a sliding S&P SL20 — highlights how liquidity-weighted large caps influenced index performance differently from the broader market. Regionally, rising trade tensions weighed on sentiment: India’s Nifty 50 retreated 0.26 percent while the BSE Sensex declined 0.25 percent. Pakistan’s KSE 100 saw a steeper fall of 3.26 percent. In Japan investors booked profits after recent gains, and lingering political uncertainty added downward pressure. Outside equities, gold prices climbed to new highs amid concerns about global trade friction, with spot gold trading at approximately $4,088.75 as of 3:20 pm Sri Lanka time, up about $63 on the session. Overall, Sri Lanka stocks remain sensitive to both domestic movers and regional macro headlines, and today’s mixed finish signals continued investor selectivity as markets navigate geopolitical and economic news flows.