Stock Market in the Red: Hotel Stocks Stand Out

In a general market decline, the hotel sector continues to show steady growth, with Lux, NMH, and Sun recording better variations than other sectors.

The week ending December 12 highlighted the resilience of the hotel sector, while the overall market continued its downward trend. During the session on December 11, Lux rose by 8.51%, NMH by 2.23%, and Sun by 0.35%, with a total of 2.76 million shares traded for Rs 71 million. The following day, December 12, Lux gained another 1.96%, Sun 0.12% at Rs 43.20, and NMH remained stable at Rs 13.75. These performances sharply contrast with those of other sectors, where most stocks closed lower. Bluelife fell by 2.04%, Emtel by 0.43%, ER Group by 0.24%, MCB by 0.74%, and NIT by 0.91%, with a total volume of 1.64 million shares for Rs 40 million.

In detail, the banking sector experienced mixed activity. SBMH dropped by 1.74% on December 8, and MCB finished lower in the following session despite a brief increase on December 5. Both banks also declined on December 12, with MCB losing 0.17% and SBMH 0.60%. In the sugar conglomerates, Terra and Alteo continued to decline, affected by broader market movements, while MTMD limited its gains to 0.79% on December 8.

Dividends: Rs 1.10 for Omnicane, Rs 0.57 for Cim Financial

Omnicane announced a dividend of Rs 1.10 per share for the year ending December 31, 2025, payable to shareholders registered at market close on March 13, 2026. Cim Financial Services announced a final dividend of Rs 0.57 per share for the year ending September 30, 2025, intended for all ordinary shareholders registered by market close on January 5, 2026. These announcements reflect the regular dividend distribution policy of both companies, confirming the continuity of income for their investors.

Foreign Sales: Rs 337.8 million, MCBG Main Contributor

Foreign investors made net sales of Rs 337.8 million across the market in November. For SEMDEX stocks alone, the outflows amounted to Rs 304.7 million. This movement was dominated by MCBG, which showed a net outflow of Rs 290.1 million. SBMH followed with Rs 5.4 million, while ER Group recorded Rs 4.1 million in foreign sales, confirming a generally divestment-oriented trend.