Investors take profits

Investors took profits on the Colombo Stock Exchange with the ASPI losing 31 points (-0.9 percent) to end at 3,479 while the more liquid MPI index dropped 41 points (-1 percent) to close at 4001. Turnover was boosted by transactions in John Keells Holdings to the tune of Rs 873 million. JKH closed at Rs 179.50 with 2 crossings of Rs 3.6 million shares at Rs 179.00 and another two crossings for a total of 974,000 at Rs 180.00.

Ceylinco Insurance non voting shares also saw active interest with turnover of Rs 66 million. The share ended the day at Rs 135.00, unchanged from the previous day's close. The voting share of Ceylinco Insurance closed at Rs 215.00 on turnover of Rs 1 million. Environmental Resources closed at Rs 59.50, while the W000 warrants closed at Rs 37.50 and the W001 closed at Rs 35.75. Total turnover for the day was Rs 1.6 billion.

Foreign purchases for the day were Rs 981 million while sales were at Rs 1.05 billion. 43 shares were up for the day while 89 were down.

Asian markets were in the negative with the Japanese Nikkei down 0.5 percent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng down 0.7 percent, China's CSI 300 Index down by 2 percent, Singapore's Straits Times Index down 0.6 percent and India's Bombay Sensex down 0.5 percent.

Firstguardian equities