Stocks continue to gain

Stocks at the Colombo Stock Exchange continued to gain, with the ASPI index adding another 39 point gain (+1 percent) to finish at 4,078.

The MPI index which tracks the 25 most liquid stocks gained 57 points (+1.2 percent) to close at 4,677.

Turnover for the day was Rs 2.3 billion with Hotel Services continuing to dominate activity.

The share saw 27.6 million shares change hands generating a turnover of Rs 847 million to end at Rs 31.50.

The share gained Rs 1.00 to close above Wednesday's price.

Chevron gained Rs 3.00 to close at Rs 174.00 on turnover of Rs 383 million.

Ceylon Tobacco gained Rs 45.75 to close at Rs 319.75. With a total market capitalisation of Rs 60 billion, it is now the CSE's third biggest company.

John Keells Holdings still holds pole position at Rs 115 billion based on its share price of Rs 185.75 (down Rs 1.50) while Sri Lanka Telecom is second with a market capitalisation of Rs 66 billion on a share price of Rs 36.50, which lost 50 cents from Wednesday's close.

First Guardian Equities