Stocks ended Friday's session on a mixed note. Colombo’s main, All Share Price Index plunged by 143.94 points (or 1.63%) to close at 8,668.07 whilst The S&P SL20 index, which includes the 20 largest and most liquid stocks increased by 8.85 points ( or 0.25%) to end at 3,514.18.

At the beginning of the day's trading session, the ASPI crossed the 9,000 point mark, but at the end of the day it plummeted to close at 8,668.07. 

The day’s trading recorded a turnover of Rs.13.41 billion. Sampath Bank (Rs.2.99 billion) emerged as the main contributor to the turnover. Meanwhile, LOLC Holdings (Rs.2.13 billion) and Vallibel One ( 1.14 billion) also made significant contributions to the turnover.

Today, 181 companies contributed negatively to the ASPI. Stocks which contributed significantly to the ASPI’s fall were Expolanka, Brown & Company, John Keells Holdings and Bukit Darah. 

Meanwhile, trading at the Colombo Stock Exchange was halted from 12.07 pm to 12.45 pm today due to a technical failure of a Broker Back Office system provider.