October 30, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed a strong rebound on Wednesday, reversing losses from the previous session as fresh buying interest helped lift investor confidence.
Despite notable fluctuations throughout the day, the market largely sustained an upward trend, with the All-Share Price Index (ASPI) fluctuating by nearly 131 points between the opening and its intraday peak.
After a brief dip near the end of trading, the ASPI closed 87.90 points higher, or 0.39 per cent, at 22,777.12. The S&P SL20 Index also edged up 7.54 points, or 0.12 per cent, to end at 6,210.63, signalling renewed strength in select blue-chip stocks.
The Capital Goods sector led overall market activity, generating LKR 1.08 billion, or 20 per cent of total turnover. DOCK.N was the most active share within the sector, accounting for LKR 286 million in trades, reflecting continued institutional involvement and investor confidence.
Total turnover for the day reached LKR 5.38 billion, with 174.24 million shares traded. Crossings made up around LKR 430 million (8 per cent of total activity), driven mainly by SAMP.N with LKR 127 million, while JKH.N recorded the largest share volume crossing, with 4.5 million shares changing hands.
Market breadth suggested mixed sentiment, with 125 stocks advancing and 105 declining, indicating mild consolidation after a period of upward momentum.
Among notable gainers, WIND.N added 26.02 points to the ASPI, emerging as the day’s strongest contributor, followed by SFCL.N, DIMO.N, NHL.N, and VLL.N. In contrast, BUKI.N was the biggest drag, shedding 18.07 points, while DOCK.N, JKH.N, CARG.N, and CTC.N also weighed on the index.
WIND.N stood out for its trading activity, posting a turnover of LKR 461 million across 2,353 transactions — a sign of robust retail interest and short-term speculative trading.
Overall, the session reflected cautious optimism among investors, as the market stabilised after recent volatility, with buying focused on stocks considered fundamentally sound.
