ASPI crosses 5,000-point threshold for first time in 3 months

• ASPI fell below 5,000-point mark on March 13
• Foreign net selling tops Rs.18.4bn so far this year

The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) yesterday crossed the 5,000-point threshold for the first time in three months.

The ASPI fell below the 5,000-point mark on March 13, when the spread of COVID-19 cases started to escalate in the country. 

The ASPI yesterday closed at 5,046.50, up 56.08 points or 1.12 percent from last Friday, as a result of the price gains in counters such as John Keells Holdings (JKH), Commercial Bank and LOLC Holdings.

Similarly, the more liquid S&P SL20 index closed at 2,221.35, up 64.82 points or 3.01 percent from last Friday.
Market yesterday witnessed a high participation of high-net-worth and institutional investors in the Commercial Bank, Citizens Development Business Finance (CDB) and Hatton National Bank 
(HNB) stocks. 

Crossings accounted for 6.4 percent of the market turnover yesterday. 

In addition, mixed interest was observed in the Royal Ceramics, Hatton National Bank (non-voting) and LOLC Holdings stocks while retail investor interest was observed in the Tokyo Cement Company and First Capital 
Holdings stocks. 

The total market turnover topped Rs.1.2 billion, an increase of 18.2 percent from last Friday, with the banking sector contributing to almost half of the market turnover.

Foreigners continued to remain as net sellers as they sold Rs.200.6 million worth of shares on a net basis, with the net selling at Royal Ceramic reaching Rs.94.8 million. 

However, foreign buying interest was seen mainly in the HNB, Dialog and Asia Assets stocks. 

So far during the year, foreigners have sold Rs.18.4 billion worth of stocks on a net basis.

The foreign participation in terms of turnover also decreased to 12.1 percent yesterday, from 20.7 on Friday last week.