Business

Recovery trend catches on in stock trading; field day for bargain hunters

Published

2 months ago

2026/05/28

The CSE yesterday indicated a recovery trend due to the realisation of the IMF’s fifth and sixth tranches and saw active participation from bargain hunters who got the opportunity to grab high valued stocks at bargain prices.

Amid those developments both indices moved upwards. The All Share Price Index went up by 24.09 points, while the S and P SL20 rose by 23.39 points. Turnover stood at Rs 1.86 billion with four crossings.

Those crossings were; CIC Holdings which crossed 4.7 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 157.8 million; its shares traded at Rs 33,LMF 500,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 46 million, its shares sold at Rs 92, JKH 2 million shares crossed for Rs 40.2 million and its shares traded at Rs 20.10, Softlogic Life Insurance 225,000 shares crossed for Rs 21 million; its shares sold at Rs 93.50.

In the retail market companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Bairaha Farm Rs 131 million (1.4 million shares traded), Dialog Rs 111 million (2.7 million shares traded), Softlogic Life Insurance Rs 106 million (1.1 million shares traded), Vidul Lanka Rs 79.7 million (3.3 million shares traded), JKH Rs 65 million (3.2 million shares traded), Sampath Bank Rs 58.2 million (409,000 shares traded) and LMF Rs 55 million (592,000 shares traded). During the day 51.88 million share volumes changed hands in 19105 transactions.

It is said that manufacturing sector counters, especially JKH and CIC Holdings performed well while consumers sector counters, especially Bahiraha and LMF, performed significantly well.

Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 328.00/330.00 to the US dollar in the spot market on, weaker from Rs 324.00/325.50 the previous day, dealers said, while the secondary bond market was quiet amid the ongoing auction.

The rupee opened at 325/327, weakened to 330/332, and settled back at 327/328 in late morning trade.

An auction of Rs 240,000 million treasury bonds was ongoing.

The telegraphic transfer rate for the Sri Lanka’s rupee against the US dollar was 319.5000 buying, 328.5000 selling, the pound was 428.7514 buying, 442.7970 selling, and the euro 369.3971 buying, 383.3141.

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

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Business

Oil prices hit $100 for the first time since May

Published

9 hours ago

2026/07/24

Priyan

Oil prices hit $100 a barrel for the first time since May as the escalating conflict in the Middle East reignited fears over global energy supplies.

Brent crude – the global benchmark for oil prices – rose more than 6% on Thursday following several days of increases as the US stepped up military strikes against Iran.

Prices spiked after Houthi militia in Yemen attacked oil tankers in the Red Sea, threatening a key export route that Saudi Arabia has used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

Gas prices have also risen steadily over the past month, with the benchmark UK gas price currently at around 150 per therm, up from around 98p at the end of June.

Oil prices had been falling following a temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran.

They dropped back to levels last seen before the US and Israel began military action against Iran on 28 February.

However, the ceasefire has failed and this week US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the people in charge in Iran were “not ready to make a deal”.

The ongoing conflict risks pushing up inflation for many countries, including UK and the US leading to higher prices for consumers.

Higher oil prices typically lead to petrol and diesel becoming more expensive.

While drivers are affected directly, households could also see prices of other goods, such as food, increase due to businesses passing on higher transportation costs to customers.

Inflation has fallen both in the UK – down to 2.6% in the year to June helped by slowing diesel and petrol prices – and in the US to 3.5%.

But questions remain whether the slow down will prove short lived due to the renewed conflict in the Middle East.

New data released on Thursday showed that UK petrol prices have risen by 5p a litre since the beginning of July, hitting reaching almost £1.56.

Diesel is at £1.72 a litre, on average, according to the RAC.

Average gasoline prices in the US have surpassed $4 a gallon once more, up from $3.92 a month ago, according to motorist advocacy group AAA.

“More expensive fuel and energy can ripple through the wider economy, increasing costs for businesses and ultimately feeding through into the price of food and other goods,” said Jonathan Raymond, investment manager at Quilter Cheviot.

“This creates another headache for central banks as they continue their battle against inflation.

“If energy prices remain elevated, policymakers may come under pressure to keep interest rates higher for longer or even raise them. This would come as a blow to mortgage holders and borrowers already feeling the strain.”

The Bank of England, which sets UK interest rates, has held them at 3.75% in its last four meetings.

Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said he believed the Bank will “almost certainly” hold them again. But he said analysts still expected that interest rates could be cut next year if energy price rises ease.

Kevin Warsh, the newly-appointed chair of the US Federal Reserve, last week told Congress that the central bank had “no tolerance to persistently elevated inflation”.

US President Donald Trump had pushed Warsh’s predecessor, Jerome Powell, to cut interest rates.

Trump has made it clear he expects Warsh to fulfil his demand for reductions in borrowing costs for Americans.

But the Fed held US interest rates between 3.5% and 3.75% at Warsh’s first meeting last month. He also told Congress that he was committed to “restoring price stability” in the wake of the Middle East conflict impacting prices.

[BBC]

Business

SEC, CSE and CA Sri Lanka sign MOU to advance XBRL-based digital reporting for listed companies

Published

16 hours ago

2026/07/24

Thilina Walpola

The signing ceremony at SEC from Left to right: Ms. Manuri Weerasinghe| Director Corporate Affairs, SEC, Tushara Jayaratne | Acting Director General, SEC, Ms. Nilupa Perera | Chief Regulatory Officer, CSE, Rajeeva Bandaranaike | Chief Executive Officer CSE, Senior Prof. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara,| Chairman, SEC, Tishan Subasinghe | President, CA Sri Lanka, Ms. Anoji de Silva | Vice President, CA Sri Lanka, Neranjith Gamage | Commission Member, SEC, Ms. Lakmali Priyangika | Chief Executive Officer, CA Sri Lanka, Ms. Rishdha Zarook Ishaq | Director Legal and Enforcement, SEC , Ms. Kumuduni Maduwanthi |Senior Manager Legal, CA Sri Lanka.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC), Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the implementation of eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) based reporting for companies listed on the CSE.

The agreement marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s efforts to modernise corporate reporting and strengthen the digital infrastructure of the capital market. The initiative aims to streamline the submission of both financial and non-financial information by listed entities, enhancing transparency, accessibility and investor confidence.

The MoU formalises the partnership, following the establishment of a joint SEC-CSE committee tasked with driving the initiative. With the in-principle approval of the SEC, the committee has been working closely with CA Sri Lanka to develop the framework required for the successful rollout.

XBRL is the internationally recognised standard for digital business reporting, developed and maintained by XBRL International, a global non-profit consortium. The standard enables financial and business information to be reported in a structured, machine-readable format, facilitating more efficient analysis, comparison and interpretation of corporate disclosures by regulators, investors, analysts and other stakeholders.

The introduction of XBRL reporting is expected to deliver several key benefits for both listed companies and users of financial information. These include reducing reliance on manual data processing, improving the accuracy and consistency of reported information, supporting more advanced data analysis, and lowering long-term reporting costs. The flexibility of the XBRL framework also allows organisations to tailor taxonomies to meet specific reporting requirements. In addition, XBRL adoption will enhance market transparency and efficiency by enabling quicker access to comparable corporate information. It will also align Sri Lanka’s reporting framework with global standards, making the country’s capital market more accessible and attractive to international investors familiar with XBRL-based financial reporting.

Business

LOLC Insurance and Seylan Bank celebrate Bancassurance Excellence through “League of Greatness” 2025

Published

16 hours ago

2026/07/24

Thilina Walpola

The Achievers of the Night

LOLC Insurance recently hosted the “LOLC Insurance – Seylan Bancassurance Felicitation Night 2025” under the theme “League of Greatness,” celebrating the success of its longstanding bancassurance partnership with Seylan Bank. The event marked another milestone in a strategic collaboration that has continued to grow since 2013.

The felicitation ceremony brought together senior management, sales leadership, branch representatives, and top-performing teams from both organisations to recognise excellence, appreciate contributions, and reaffirm the enduring partnership between LOLC Insurance and Seylan Bank. The collaboration currently spans 104 Seylan Bank branches across Sri Lanka, delivering accessible life and general insurance solutions islandwide.

Speaking at the event, Ramesh Jayasekara, Director/Chief Executive Officer, Seylan Bank PLC, stated, “Our partnership with LOLC Insurance continues to create meaningful value for customers while further strengthening the bancassurance proposition within the banking sector. The dedication and collaborative spirit demonstrated by both teams have been instrumental in achieving these milestones and sustaining the growth of this partnership. We look forward to enhancing our collaboration and delivering greater value to customers in the years ahead.”

Sharing insights during the event, Eugene Seneviratne, Deputy General Manager – Retail Banking, Seylan Bank, added, “The professionalism and operational efficiency demonstrated by the bancassurance teams have been instrumental in consolidating this partnership. Our branch teams continue to seamlessly manage day-to-day bancassurance functions with minimal operational escalations, reflecting the strength of a well-structured and highly efficient framework. This has contributed to a smooth and mutually beneficial working relationship, enabling the partnership to enhance coordination, execution, and overall performance.”

Addressing the gathering, Kithsiri Gunawardena, Chairman/Principal Officer of LOLC General Insurance and Director of LOLC Life Assurance, stated, “Successful partnerships are built on trust, shared values, and a common vision. The strength and longevity of this collaboration reflect the commitment of both organisations to delivering meaningful impact to customers while advancing the country’s bancassurance sector. The positive feedback and appreciation consistently received from Seylan Bank regarding the quality of service delivered and the steadfast support extended by the teams stand as a testament to the professionalism and service excellence upheld throughout the partnership.”