The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is the main stock exchange in Sri Lanka. It is one of the exchanges in South Asia, providing a fully automated trading platform. The headquarters of the CSE have been located at the World Trade Center (Colombo) Towers [1] in Colombo since 1995 and it also has branches across the country in Kandy, Jaffna, Negombo, Matara, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura and Ratnapura . The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has 296 companies representing 20 business sectors as at 3 August 2015, with a Market Capitalization of Rs. 3115.52 Bn.
History
Share trading in Sri Lanka was initiated in 1896 under Share Brokers Association (SBA). In 1904 SBA was renamed as Colombo Brokers' Association. They started auctioning shares in an open land. Later a competitor evolved, Stock Brokers Association and in 1985 Colombo Brockers & Stock Brokers merged and formed Colombo Securities Exchange.
The establishment of a formal stock exchange took place in 1985 with the incorporation of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), which took over the Stock Market from the Colombo Share Brokers Association. It currently has a membership of 15 institutions, all of which are licensed to operate as stockbrokers.
In 1990, the business was renamed as Colombo Stock Exchange. CSE introduced Central Depository System and clearing was automated by that. In 1995 CSE headquarters was opened at WTC, Colombo.
Milanka Price Index was introduce in 1999 and several branches were opened within the country,
Current status
Financial
As of 31 July 2014, 295 companies are listed on the Colombo stock Exchange, representing twenty business sectors with a market capitalization of 2.4 trillion rupees (over US$18.5 billion), which corresponds to approximately 1/3 of the Gross Domestic Product of the country.
There are currently two indices in the Colombo Stock Exchange;
- The All Share Price Index (ASPI)
- The S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index (S&P SL20)
(Milanka Price Index - MPI was abolished after 30/12/2012)
Sustainable Stock Exchange
On 24 September 2015, Colombo Stock Exchange declared its entry in to the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative and its intentions to promote corporate, Social and Governance (ESG) issues, with the support of the local network of the United Nations Global Compact.
Trading session
The exchange via Wikinvest
Technology
The CSE operates 3 main systems:
- The Central Depository System (CDS)
- Automated Trading System (ATS)
(After implementing ATS version-7, The Debt Securities Trading System (DEX) was abolished since ATS-7 provides a platform for both Debt & Equity)
The automation of the Exchange commenced in 1991 with the installation of a central depository and an electronic clearing and settlement system for share transactions. The trading activity was automated with the installation of the Automated Trading System (ATS) in 1997.
The CSE is currently in the process of introducing a debt securities trading system for trading of fixed income securities.
As a modern exchange, the CSE now offers an "order-driven trading platform" for securities trading - including shares, corporate debt securities and government debt securities.
Affiliation
- World Federation of Exchanges
The CSE was selected as a member of the World Federation of Exchanges in October 1998 and also was the first Exchange in the South Asian Region to obtain membership. The CSE is the 52nd Exchange to have been elected to membership of the Federation.
- South Asian Federation of Exchanges
The CSE became a founder member of the SAFE in January 2000, and is currently the Chairman of the Association. SAFE consists of 17 Exchanges from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. Its primary objectives are to encourage cooperation among its members in order to promote the development of their individual securities markets, to develop an integrated regional stock trading system, and to offer listing and trading opportunities for securities issued in the region.
Foreign investors
Companies listed on the CSE have seen a large increase in foreign investment following the ceasefire agreement signed by the Sri Lankan Government that brought an end to the 30-year-old civil war.
Foreign investment in the stock market is freely permitted except in the case of a few companies where there are certain restrictions imposed. Investment in shares in Sri Lanka and repatriation of proceeds take place through Share Investment External Rupee Accounts (SIERA) opened with licensed commercial banks. Income from investments such as interest, dividends and profit realized from such investments are not subject to Exchange Control Regulations by the Sri Lankan Government.
Post ceasefire agreement boom
After witnessing mediocre performance throughout the 1990s mainly due to the Sri Lankan Civil War, the ceasefire agreement signed in 2001 saw unprecedented growth in the both indices of the CSE. The All Share Price Index, which was hovering around the 500 mark in August 2001, has surpassed the 2000 mark after that.
This led CSE to be consistently dubbed as one of the best performing markets in the world. As of 2005 the CSE had recorded a consistent annual growth of over 30% in the All Share Price Index (ASPI) for the previous three years. It surpassed that in 2006, with the ASPI growing by 41.6%, and the MPI growing by 51.4% during the calendar year. CSE recorded the highest point in history on 26 February 2007. Milanka Price Index (MPI) reached 4,214.8 points on that day.
Buoyed by improved investor confidence due to positive political developments and strong corporate results the CSE continued to achieve strong growth in 2007, as the ASPI surged passed the 3,000 mark for the first time in its history on February 13, reaching a record high for the seventh consecutive day. The CSE has also recorded an average daily turnover of Rs. 776.8 million for 2007.
Post war boom
After the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War on 18 May 2009, CSE indexes increased rapidly creating new records. Market capitalization at the Colombo Stock Exchange reached record high on 6 October 2009 as it reached the Rs. 1 trillion mark for the first time in Sri Lanka’s history. All Share Price Index (ASPI) broke the record for its previous high by marking 3549.27 points on 11 January 2010. CSE was the best performing stock exchange in the world in 2009 as it jumped 125.2 percent during that year.
See also
- List of South Asian stock exchanges
- Milanka Price Index
References
- CSE Annual Report 2004
- Sri Lanka's Most Trusted Investment Community
- Community-driven Market and Stock Predictions for the Colombo Stock Exchange (cse.lk)
External links
- Official Web Site
- CSE Educational Portal
- Colombo Stock Watch - The Investor Relations Company
- Educational Web Site on CSE in Sinhalese language