Dialog Telekom accounts for Rs 54 million

The indices at the Colombo Stock Exchange came down as retail investors sold shares in blue chip companies. The broader market ASPI came down by 24 points (-0.8 percent) to close at 2,889 while the more liquid MPI came down by 34 points (-1 percent) to close 3,248 points.

Total turnover for yesterday was Rs 419 million. Dialog Telekom accounted for Rs 54 million of the day's business with the share closing unchanged at Rs 6.25. Ceylon Theatres lost a Rupee to close at Rs 45.00 on a turnover of Rs 23 million while Vallibel Power Erathne gained 10 cents to close at Rs 4.00 on a turnover of Rs 14 million.

Of the large cap companies, John Keells Holdings closed down Rs 2.00 at Rs 153.00, HNB lost Rs 3.25 to close at Rs 160.75, Commercial Bank lost Rs 1.75 to close at Rs 170.50 and Cargills lost Rs 1.50 to end the day at Rs 55.00.

Asian markets were mixed with Japan's Nikkei up 1.2 percent, China's SCI up 0.7 percent, India's Sensex up 0.4 percent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index down 2.5 percent and Singapore's STI down 0.7 percent.

Source: First Guardian Equities