Market positive again

Retail interest continued into yesterday with poultry companies also getting into the act. One large parcel amounting to 5.85% of Aitken Spence changed hands which was the only highlight amongst institutional investors.

Many counters with lower absolute values gained ground on the hope of better times ahead. ASI gained 29.55 points (0.58%) to close at 5,102.65, MPI gained 29.52 points (0.62%) to close at 4,753.54 and the S&P index gained 9.91 points (0.35%) to close at 2,856.75. Turnover was Rs. 3,073.8 million.

Top contributors to turnover were Aitken Spence with Rs. 2,543.6 million, Colombo Land and Development with Rs. 37.6 million and DFCC with Rs. 34.8 million. Most active counters were Colombo Land and Development, Citurs warrant 19 and Citrus Leisure.

Notable gainers for the day were Ceylon Foreign Trades up by 29.6% to close at Rs. 7.00, Taprobane Holdings up by 20.5% to close at Rs. 4.70 and Nation Lanka Finance warrant 21 up by 10.7% to close at Rs. 3.10.