Indices decline

The indices at the Colombo Stock Exchange declined with the ASPI losing 12 points (-0.4 percent) to end at Rs 2,971 while the more liquid MPI declined by 4 points (-0.1 percent) to close at 3,376. Turnover was boosted by transactions in the voting shares of Hatton National Bank (turnover of Rs 311 million, down Rs 1.50 to close at Rs 168.00) and Commercial Bank (turnover of Rs 277 million, share closed up Rs 1.00 to Rs 177.00) HNB voting shares saw 4 crossings at Rs 168.00 for a total of 1.8 million shares while Commercial Bank a single crossing of 1.5 million shares at Rs 177.00.

Of the large caps, John Keells Holdings was up 50 cents to close at Rs 144.25, Sri Lanka Telecom was down 50 cents to Rs 42.50 and Dialog Telekom was unchanged at Rs 7.25

Asian markets were mixed and of the majors only China was up, a gain of 0.05 percent. The Nikkei was down half a percent, the Hang Seng was down 0.3 percent, as was India’s Bombay Sensex. Singapore’s Straits Times Index was down 0.7 percent.

Source: First Guardian Equities