Market picks up

Market saw renewed interest on popular retail investor counters amidst a meeting scheduled with the President and industry professionals to address issues pertaining to the faltering stock market.

Most high capitalized counters such as Bukit Dara, Carson Cumberbatch and Sampath Bank continued to show selling pressure. Premier Blue-chip John Keells Holdings was up Rs. 3 at Rs. 180.

ASI was up points 68.47 (1.42%) to close at 4,891.11, MPI was up 62.58 points (1.47%) to close at 4,331.04 and the S&P index rose 17.43 points (0.64%) to close at 2,760.18. Turnover was Rs. 666.3 million.

Top contributors to turnover were Sampath Bank with Rs. 248 million, John Keells Holdings with Rs. 56 million and DFCC with Rs. 53 million.

Most active counters were HVA Foods, Free Lanka Capital Holdings and Lankem Developments.

Notable gainers were HVA Foods up by 22% to close at Rs. 13.80, MTD Walkers up by 18% to close at Rs. 23.60 and Nation Lanka Finance warrant 21 up by 17.39% to close at Rs. 2.70. Meanwhile notable losers for the day were

Amaya Leisure down by 3% to close at Rs. 65, Laufgs Gas voting down by 2.22% to close at Rs. 22 and Keells Hotels down by 1.64% to close at Rs. 12.

Foreign participation was 28.1% and foreigners were net sellers of Rs. 216.1 million worth shares.

Courtesy: Lanka Securities Research