ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka stocks closed up 0.98 percent on retail and high net worth investor interest, amidst the national budget presentation, brokers said.
“We have been seeing positivity in the market and among investors for the past few days,” Ranjan Ranatunga, Assistant Vice President – Research at First Capital said.
The broader ASPI rose 225.77 points to end at 23,338.25; while the more liquid S&P SL20 moved 1.13 percent, or 71.21 points to close up at 6,381.47.
Quarterly results of several companies being positive contributed to the sentiment in the market, he said.
“Results are really good for the quarter. So the market and the investors are responding to it,” Ranatunga said.
Ranatunga said market participants are not expecting any negativity from the budget.
Therefore, he said the budget is not affecting market sentiment.
Top contributors to the ASPI were Senkadagala Finance Company (up 330.50 rupees at 1,656.75), Commercial Bank (up 4.25 rupees at 212.25), Sampath Bank (up 2.00 rupees at 150.00), HNB (up 4.75 rupees at 404.75) and Vallibel One (up 5.50 rupees at 99.90).
Kotmale Holdings was the top gainer of the session.
The stock climbed 2,321.50 rupees higher to 1,608.25 on Thursday.
“Turnover was 6.7 billion with the participation of retail and high net worth shares,” Ranatunga said.
Market turnover climbed from 6.06 billion rupees to 6.7 billion, while share volume was 208,539,256.
In the region, stock markets experienced selling pressure, Reuters said.
“Tech-heavy stock markets were heading for their biggest weekly fall in seven months on Friday, as investors fretted over the sustainability of a rally in artificial intelligence stocks,” Reuters said.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was “dragged down by heavyweight technology shares amid caution about recent rapid gains,” Japan’s The Mainichi newspaper said.
The index fell 1.19 percent to 50,276.37.
Pakistan’s KSE 100 index was trading 0.75 percent higher at 160,284.69. The index rebounded after trading in the negative territory.
Meanwhile, India’s Nifty 50 index moved 0.068 percent down to close at 25,492.30, while the BSE Sensex moved 0.11 percent down to 83,216.28. (Colombo/Nov7/2025)
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