Market down

Profit taking ensued in the market resulting in the indices at the Colombo Stock Exchange dipping marginally. The broader market ASPI closed down 4 points (-0.1 percent) to close at 3,135 while the MPI lost 2 points (-0.05 percent) to close at 3,556 yesterday. Turnover for the day was Rs 1.2 billion with John Keells Holdings accounting Rs 210 million with the share closing at Rs 154.00. JKH was unchanged from Wednesday's close. Trading in HNB generated business of Rs 116 million with the share closing at Rs 172.00, down 75 cents. Turnover from Commercial Bank was Rs 105 million and the share closed at Rs 192.00, gaining Rs 2.00.

Large Cap stocks - Dialog Telekom and Sri Lanka Telecom closed at Rs 7.50 and Rs 46.00 respectively, with the former closing unchanged while SLT was down 25 cents. Carson Cumberbatch & Co closed at Rs 358.00 (gaining Rs 6.00), Distilleries Company closed at Rs 108.75 (down 50 cents) and Aitken Spence and Co; was unchanged at Rs 900.00.

First Guardian Equities