Regular trading at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) was temporarily halted for 30 minutes from 11.44 am to 12.14 pm this morning (12) as S&P SL20 index dropped by 5% during the trading session from the previous close.

However, when regular trading at the CSE recommenced at 12.17 pm, All Share Price Index was down by 194.59 points to 5,009.93 while S&P SL20 index indicated a fall of 118.90 points to 2,286.90.

This is a decline of 3.52% and 4.96%, respectively, in comparison to the last trading day.

The market turnover was Rs. 357 million.

This is the second time regular trading at the CSE was temporarily halted this week.

On Tuesday (10), regular trading was halted for 30 minutes from 9.42 am to 10.12 am as S&P SL20 index dropped by 5% during the trading session. However, it recommenced at 10.12 am.