Colombo shares closed on Thursday in positive territory as main Index advanced by 12.06 points (+0.18%) to end at 6,813.90 while S&P SL 20 Index advanced by 4.33 points (+0.11%) to end at 3,772.51. Market gained 435.28 points, +7% during the month.

Total market turnover for the day was LKR 1.0bn. Access Engineering made the highest contribution of LKR 228mn to the market turnover with the support of negotiated deal of 8.95mn shares at LKR 24.40 per share. Further John Keells Holdings (LKR 82mn) and Hatton National Bank (LKR 58mn) made the next highest contributions to the daily turnover along with the crossings of 0.16mn shares (at LKR 237.00 per share) and 0.27mn shares (at LKR 170.00 per share) respectively.

Moreover several crossings were seen in Ceylinco Insurance (0.50mn shares at LKR 520.00 per share), Commercial Bank (0.20mn shares at LKR 145.00 per share) and Royal Ceramics (0.45mn shares at LKR 105.00 per share).

Guardian Capital Partners, Commercial Credit and Lucky Lanka Milk Foods non-voting were the mostly traded stocks for the day.

Foreign investor participation in the market activities was 14% for the day and it led to LKR 112mn inflow to the market. Net foreign inflows were seen in Hatton National Bank (LKR 53mn), Ceylon Cold Store (LKR 43mn) and John Keells Holdings (LKR 35mn) while net foreign outflow was mainly seen in Textured Jersey (LKR 13mn).

Cash map ended at 62%.

Further, Elpitiya Plantations declared a first and final dividend of LKR 0.75 per share (DY 3%).

Lanka Securities Research