Sri Lankan shares extend losing streak to eight sessions on broad-based losses

Sri Lankan shares closed lower for the eighth straight session on Thursday, its longest downward streak since September 2024, dragged by losses across sectors. The CSE All-Share index settled down 0.60% at 21,697.72. Industrial Asphalts (Ceylon) PLC and Agstar PLC were the top percentage losers on the CSE All-Share index, falling 12.5% and 8%, respectively. Trading volume on the index fell to 119.5 million shares from 210.2 million in the previous session. The equity market’s turnover dropped to 1.44 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($4.3 million) from 2.26 billion rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data. Foreign investors were net sellers, offloading stocks worth 133.5 million rupees, while domestic investors were net buyers, purchasing shares worth 1.40 billion rupees, the data showed.