ECONOMYNEXT – The Colombo Stock Exchange All Share Price Index (ASPI) rose 0.67 percent on Monday due to optimism surrounding financial shares, data on its site showed.
The broader ASPI climbed 141.78 points from Friday, to end at 21,226.87; while the more liquid S&P SL20 closed up 1.06 percent, or 63.75 points, at 6,059.91.
The top contributors to the ASPI were John Keells Holdings (up 0.60 rupees at 23.40), C T Holdings (up 33.25 rupees at 699.25), Senkadagala Finance (up 100.50 rupees at 578.25), Commercial Bank (up 3.00 rupees at 193.25) and Vallibel One (up 5.70 rupees at 96.80).
Market turnover was 8 billion rupees on Monday, while the share volumes were 276,333,683.
Elsewhere, equity markets traded mixed in the region.
Indian equity market’s Information Technology related shares slumped as US president Donald Trump imposed a one time US 100,000 dollars fee on new applicants coming through the high skilled worker visa scheme, the H-1B visa policy.
The policy came into effect from Sunday midnight.
“The sector, which earns about 57% of its revenue from the U.S., has long gained from U.S. work visa programmes and the outsourcing of software and business services – a contentious issue for American job-seekers competing with cheaper Indian labour,” Reuters said.
Nifty 50 index fell 0.49 percent to 25,202.35 while BSE Sensex moved 0.56 percent to 82,159.97.
Pakistan’s KSE 100 index fell 0.18 percent to 157,754.03.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index hit record high on Monday as hopes for “stimulus measures to boost the economy as campaigning in the leadership race of Japan’s ruling party kicked off,” Japan’s The Mainichi newspaper said.
The index moved 0.99 percent, or 447.85 points down, to 45,493.66.
As at 4.20 pm Sri Lankan time, spot gold was trading at 3,741.45 US dollars, up 49.09 US dollars. (Colombo/Sep22/2025)
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