Market Lens section
Full Market Lens archive, sorted by latest publication time.
Sponsor

Opinion | Feb 21, 2026
Technical analysis spots patterns in price and volume that many traders use daily. Yet major events prove it cannot be relied on exclusively when external forces dominate. The 2021 GameStop frenzy and 2008 Volkswagen squeeze show how crowd behavior and structural surprises render historical signals irrelevant. Blending tools with broader awareness remains essential.

CSE | Feb 21, 2026
The Colombo Stock Exchange showed resilience over the week ending 20 February 2026, with the ASPI briefly surpassing the 24,000 psychological level before closing near 23,780. Daily turnover averaged above Rs. 4.5 billion on healthy domestic participation. The market posted modest weekly gains despite late-session profit-taking, underscoring steady investor confidence tied to Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic stabilisation.

Finance | Feb 21, 2026
Sri Lanka’s 2026 Budget revises vehicle taxation with the Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL) now collected at importation. Importers warn this will push up new vehicle prices starting 1 April. The change broadens the tax base while maintaining existing excise and duty structures for the post-import-ban market.

Auto | Feb 20, 2026
Nissan posted a modest third-quarter operating profit in February 2026 while slashing its full-year operating-loss forecast by more than 75 percent. The Re:Nissan restructuring—20,000 job cuts and seven plant closures—is delivering faster-than-expected savings. Yet a projected 650 billion yen net loss for fiscal 2025 underscores the heavy one-time costs and external pressures still weighing on the Japanese automaker. This case study traces the crisis, the bold response, and the narrow path to recovery.
Sponsored

AI | Feb 20, 2026
AI infrastructure spending has surged to historic levels, led by OpenAI expansion and Elon Musk-backed data center buildouts. Markets are divided between AI Bubble concerns and long-term productivity optimism. The debate now centers on earnings durability, energy constraints and capital discipline.

Finance | Feb 20, 2026
Sri Lanka’s financial system shows continued stabilisation. The Central Bank held its policy rate at 7.75% in January while Treasury bill yields settled at 7.66% for three months after extra supply was absorbed. Unit trust assets reached Rs 610 billion in January, driven by equity funds that doubled in size. This guide explains eight widely used instruments in straightforward terms, drawing on current market conditions shaped by the IMF-supported recovery and steady foreign inflows.

Finance | Feb 20, 2026
Bernstein raised its rating on Coinbase Global to Outperform with a $320 price target. The upgrade highlights the company’s successful shift toward diversified revenue streams beyond volatile trading fees. Shares rose more than 4 percent on the Nasdaq in the latest session. The development provides fresh perspective on how crypto-native platforms are maturing into core financial infrastructure providers.
Market Pulse | Feb 20, 2026
Sri Lanka equities traded on a softer footing, with the ASPI easing 0.40% and the S&P SL20 down 0.32%, as decliners outnumbered advancers by a wide margin. Market breadth remained negative at 78 gainers against 175 losers, underscoring fragile internal participation despite turnover reaching LKR 3.89 billion. Activity
Market Pulse | Feb 20, 2026
The Colombo Stock Exchange recorded a subdued close on February 19, 2026, with the ASPI finishing at 23,870.07 after a 0.21% decline and the SPSL20 easing 0.11% to 6,743.19. Total turnover reached LKR 4.93 billion across 276.9 million shares in 39,867 trades. Selective strength appeared in a few counters, notably Senka

Capital Markets | Feb 20, 2026
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) traces its roots back to the late 19th century under British rule. Over decades, it evolved through regulatory reforms, automation and post-war capital market expansion. Today, it stands as a key pillar of Sri Lanka’s financial system, shaped by macro cycles and global capital flows.

Finance | Feb 19, 2026
Sri Lanka’s Finance and asset management sector has undergone a structural transformation over the past decade, shaped by capital market deepening, regulatory reform and the 2022 crisis reset. Assets under management expanded alongside pension funds, unit trusts and private wealth mandates, even as macro volatility tested liquidity and currency stability. With IMF-backed reforms and tighter monetary policy now anchoring expectations, the industry faces a more disciplined but opportunity-rich phase.

International | Feb 19, 2026
Tesla recorded a 17% drop in U.S. vehicle sales for January 2026, reaching roughly 40,100 units. Elon Musk confirmed April production start for the steering-wheel-free Cybercab priced below $30,000, with deliveries targeted before 2027. The company has guided for capital spending above $20 billion this year, focused on autonomy and robotics. Musk's net worth sits at $849.3 billion, with prediction markets assigning a 75% chance he becomes a trillionaire in 2026.