CIC stocks boost MPI

BOURSE: The market brought mixed results yesterday. The All Share Price Index (ASPI) was up by 2.15 points to 2161.40 points. However the Milanka Price Index (MPI) fell by 3.52 points to 2735.09 points.

The total equity turnover was Rs. 618.3 million for the day. The net foreign outflows were Rs 84.9 million with foreign purchases registering Rs.58.5 millions and foreign sales registering Rs. 143.4 million during the course of the day.

The total market capitalization was Rs. 656.4 billion for the day.

The stock market was active and performed well compared to the previous day.

CIC shares amounting to 900,000 which is an eleven per cent stake of the turnover of indices contributed 50 per cent of day's turnover, stock market sources said. Distilleries shares were also traded (2.8 million shares). This contributed 20 per cent of the turnover of Rs. 618 million, Business Development Manager Bartlett Stockbrokers Angelo Ranasinghe said.

According to Ranasinghe, buying interest on low value shares continued for the last few weeks. Blue-chip companies were not traded sensationally but those were mainly traded on a selective basis at the end of the day.