Colombo Bourse ended on positive territory today with ASI and MPI gaining 39.34 points (+0.8%) and 29.66 points (+0.5%) to close at 5,994.66 and 5,267.74 respectively. The market turnover was LKR 461.7mn.
 

Continued investor interest in John Keells Holdings pushed the share price to LKR 182.00, an increase of LKR 5.10 (+2.9%). JKH was the top contributor to the market turnover (LKR 99.4mn) and the counter recorded a crossing of 200,000 shares at a price of LKR 179.50.

 

In addition, a total of 337,000 shares of HNB changed hands as two crossing at a price of LKR 150.00 per share. HNB was the second highest contributor to the turnover (LKR 50.6mn) followed by Environmental Resources (LKR 16.9mn). HNB closed at LKR 150.60, down by LKR 0.30 while Environmental Resources closed at LKR 45.40, down by LKR 1.10.

 

On the other hand counters such as HVA Foods (LKR 37.30,+1.1%), Environmental Resources – W.0002 (LKR 18.80,-4.1%) and SMB Leasing (LKR 1.80,0%) were among the heavily traded counters.

 

Meanwhile newly listed shares such as Textured Jersey (LKR 9.90,-2,0%), Peoples Leasing Co. (LKR 15.80, 0%) and Expo Lanka (LKR 8.70, -1.2%) reached new 52 week lows during the day.

 

Foreign participation was relatively high and it accounted for 20.1% of the total market activity. At the end of the day foreign investors were net sellers with a net outflow of LKR 5.2mn.