Dull market sentiment

Market ended in the negative territory yesterday with both benchmark indices recording further losses. ASI lost 84.51 index points (-1.32%) to close at 6,322.01 while sensitive MPI lost 57.52 index points (-1.01%) to close at 5,641.33.

Market turnover was Rs 707.8mn

John Keells Holdings made the highest contribution to the market turnover (Rs.148.5mn) with a total of 627,000 shares changed hands as three crossings at a price of Rs.195.00.

JKH closed at Rs.193.00, down Rs.0.90. In addition, Royal Ceramics (Rs.63.1mn) and Hatton National Bank non-voting (Rs.49.8mn) took the 2nd and 3rd highest places respectively in terms of market turnover while recording several off-the-floor deals.

Meanwhile HVA Foods, Citrus Leisure and Pelwatta Sugar were among the mostly traded stocks during the day.

Foreign participation was 17.3% of the total market activity. At the end of the day foreign investors were net buyers with a net foreign inflow of Rs.77.9mn.

Lanka Securities Research