CSE Starts April Mixed as Early Gains Fade Amid Cautious Sentiment

By Almas Equities Research

The Colombo Stock Exchange commenced the month of April on a mixed note on 01st April 2026, with the ASPI closing in positive territory while the S&P SL20 ended marginally lower. The market showed early strength, with the ASPI gaining over 140 points at its peak during the session; however, these gains were not sustained as selling pressure emerged, leading to a gradual pullback.

Investor sentiment remained cautious throughout the session, with market participants largely adopting a wait-and-see approach while holding positions at current levels. This cautious stance was reflected in relatively lower turnover and share volumes, indicating subdued participation across the broader market.

The Capital Goods sector led market turnover, recording LKR 0.45 Bn with 12.46 Mn shares traded. TKYO.N was the top contributor within the sector, generating LKR 0.20 Bn in turnover with 2.30 Mn shares traded. Crossings accounted for LKR 0.37 Bn (21% of total turnover), with the largest crossing recorded in JKH.N totaling LKR 0.81 Bn involving 45.29 Mn shares traded.

At the close, the ASPI gained 51.24 points (+0.24%) to settle at 21,117.42, while the S&P SL20 declined by 28.41 points (-0.48%) to 5,875.69. Total market turnover stood at LKR 1.76 Bn, with 64.10 Mn shares traded. Market breadth remained relatively positive, with 126 gainers against 79 decliners, although overall sentiment stayed subdued.

Positive contributors were led by MELS.N (+12.98 points), followed by SAMP.N, RIL.N, JKH.N, and RICH.N. On the downside, HNB.N (-19.94 points) led the decline, while CFIN.N, LOLC.N, SEYB.N, and GREG.N also weighed on the index. Among notable trades, ACL.N recorded a turnover of LKR 0.10 Bn with 1.17 Mn shares traded, posting a price gain of 0.71%.