ECONOMYNEXT – The Colombo Stock Exchange closed up on Thursday, data on its site showed.
The broader ASPI closed up 0.27 percent, or 39.96 points, at 14,654.26; while the more liquid S&P SL20 Index closed down 0.32 percent, or 14.01 points, at 4,390.12.
Turnover was 5.85 billion.
“Market remains bullish, there continuous volumes,” market participants said. “The S&P SL20 was down mainly because of some profit taking in banking stocks.”
Top positive contributors to the ASPI were Ceylon Cold Stores (up at 76.80), PGP Glass Ceylon (up at 34.00), John Keells Holdings (up at 22.60), Dipped Products (up at 52.40) and Lanka IOC (up at 129.50).
“Retail and high net worth individuals were seen driving buying sentiment, particularly in consumer stocks like LMF and CCS on the back of the government’s announcement of raising the PAYE threshold and the perception that consumers will now have more disposable income.”
Top turnover generators were LVL Energy Fund (up at 6.40), John Keells Holdings, Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) (up at 42.80), Kotagala Plantations (up at 9.60) and Hatton National Bank (down at 272.25).
Crossings were recorded on LVL Energy Fund, Sunshine Holdings (up at 86.00), Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka (down at 68.80), CIC Holdings (down at 91.00), Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank (down at 135.25), PGP Glass Ceylon, JKH, Commercial Bank non-voting (down at 104.50), Commercial Credit and Finance (up at 49.30), Vallibel Finance (down at 50.50), and Marawila Resorts (up at 6.60).
There was a net foreign outflow of 1.4 million rupees.
Foreign buying was seen in Digital Mobility Solutions, LVL Energy Fund, John Keells Holdings, Commercial Credit and Finance, DFCC Bank (down at 90.30), and Industrial Asphalts (flat at 0.50).
Foreign selling was seen in Sunshine Holdings (up at 86.00), Chevron Lubricants (up at 142.00), Dialog Axiata (flat at 11.20), Commercial Bank non-voting (down at 104.50), Tokyo Cement non-voting (up at 58.10) and Alumex (up at 14.50). (Colombo/Dec19/2024)