Overview
- The benchmark closed Thursday at 160,657 after a 2,474-point gain, with 797.17 million shares worth Rs35.12 billion traded and market capitalization rising to about Rs18.29 trillion.
- Early Friday trading added roughly 761 points to reach about 161,419, extending the bullish momentum into a second session.
- Sentiment improved following the 27th Constitutional Amendment, security assurances that kept Sri Lanka’s cricket tour on track, a reported successful operation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and calmer regional signals.
- Gains were led by cement, fertiliser and oil & gas, while Maple Leaf Cement notified plans to acquire Pioneer Cement; Maple Leaf Cement and Maple Leaf Capital already hold an 18.6% stake in Pioneer.
- NCCPL reported foreign investors as net sellers of about Rs656 million, and analysts recommended selective, sector-focused positioning given macro and geopolitical risks.