On 09 January 2015, the day the new government took office, the ASPI stood at 7,605.

It dropped to 5,802 or 23.7 per cent, by the morning of 09 March 2016.

A weakened global economy, depreciation of the currencies and the increase in interest rates have been blamed for this market decline.

Within two days after the prime minister spoke of imposing a capital gains tax, the ASPI suffered a loss of 200 points, or around four pc.

Until the government shows that it counters the economic crisis with confidence and foreign investments are attracted for development, the share market is unlikely to gain much, say brokers.

Right decisions in that direction include the resumption of the port city project and the stabilization of interest rates and the currency rates, they note.