Indices end lower

The indices at the Colombo Stock Exchange ended the day lower with the ASPI losing 8 points (-0.5%) to end at 1,542 while the more liquid MPI lost 24 points (-1.5%) to close at 1,648.

Turnover for the day was Rs 93 million with Ceylinco Insurance voting shares accounting for Rs 50 million in turnover. The share closed at Rs 175.00, unchanged from Wednesday's closing.

Seylan Bank has been sought after since the Ceylinco Group announced its intention to divest its holding in the Bank. The company's voting shares closed at Rs 31.50, while the non-voting ended the day at Rs 5.75.

John Keells Holdings saw Rs 20.4 million of turnover with the share closing at Rs 50.00, while Malwatte Valley Plantations closed up at Rs 21.00, on turnover of Rs 6.3 million.

Asian markets which had witnessed mixed results in the past few days were all down with Japan's Nikkei Index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index losing 4% of market value, while Singapore's Straits Times Index was down 3%. Markets in Mumbai were closed for religious holidays.

Source: First Guardian Equities