ECONOMYNEXT – The Colombo Stock Exchange closed up on Friday, data on its site showed.
The broader ASPI closed up 1.07 percent, or 156.44 points, at 14,810; while the more liquid S&P SL20 Index closed up 0.70 percent, or 30.67 points, at 4,420.
Turnover was a record 9.23 billion. This was the highest since February 7 this year when they CSE recorded a turnover of 12 billion rupees.
“The market is doing really well,” market participants said. “There’s a lot of new money coming in.”
Top positive contributors to the ASPI were Central Finance Company (up at 167.25), Ceylon Cold Stores (up at 84.00), Melstacorp (up at 115.75), Access Engineering (up at 34.20) and Chevron Lubricants Lanka (up at 147.00).
“Interest continued to come into the consumer stocks, CCS, and LMF.”
Top turnover generators were Sierra Cables (up at 12.90), Hatton National Bank (down at 272.00), Royal Ceramics (up at 39.20), Lanka Milk Foods (up at 44.30), and Access Engineering (up at 34.20).
“There was also instruction in the construction sector.”
Several crossings were reported as high net worth individuals were active, they said.
Crossings were recorded on The Colombo Fort Land and Building (up at 34.50), SMB (flat at 0.80), HDFC (up at 37.50), Lotus Hydro Power (up at 12.00), CTC (down at 1,301.00), CT Land Development (up at 27.90), Access Engineering, Laxapana (up at 25.80), Browns Investments (up at 6.50), Ambeon Holdings (up at 42.50), Muller and Phipps (up at 1.20), HNB, Sanasa Development Bank (up at 38.30), HNB non-voting (up at 209.75), JAT Holdings (up at 26.40), Haycarb (up at 84.50), The Kandy Hotels Company (up at 13.30), Samson International (up at 158.75), Central Finance Company (up at 167.25), Ceylon Cold Stores (up at 84.00), Commercial Credit and Finance (up at 50.50), Sampath Bank (up at 107.50), and Agarapatana Plantations (flat at 11.00).
There was a net foreign outflow of 226 million rupees.
Foreign buying was seen in Tee Jay Lanka (flat at 45.90), Nations Trust Bank (up at 172.50), Commercial Bank (135.50), LOLC Holdings (up at 555.50), Seylan Bank (up at 47.50) and John Keells Holdings (flat at 22.50).
Foreign selling was seen in Sira (up at 12.90), Ceylon Tobacco company (down at 1301.00), Pan Asia Banking Corporation (up at 30.60) , Lanka IOC (up at 129.75), Royal Ceramics (up at 39.20), and Access Engineering (up at 34.20) (Colombo/Dec20/2024)