Bourse posts one of its lowest recent turnovers

Market limps with all indices down

The Colombo bourse yesterday saw one of its lowest turnovers in recent times with the total business volume at Rs.138.4 million, down from the previous day’s Rs.477.2 million, with all indices down – the All Share by 19.10 points (0.35%), the Milanka by 21.29 points (0.43%) and S&P by 13.90 points (0.47%) with 116 losers outpacing 79 gainers while 57 counters closed flat.

Brokers noted that the All Share Price Index at 5,494.54 was now below the 5,500 point benchmark and said that the little business that was seen yesterday was concentrated on JKH, LIOC, Asian Hotel Properties and Ceylon Theatres.

There were no block trades while JKH which topped the turnover league closed Rs.2.70 up at Rs.207.90 with 71,541 shares done between Rs.205.90 and Rs.208 generating a turnover of Rs.14.8 million.

This counter traded at an average of Rs.206 during the day, brokers said.

Lanka Indian Oil in which foreign interest was seen on Wednesday saw over 0.5 million shares traded yesterday closing flat at Rs.17.50 with the share trading between Rs.17.40 and Rs.17.90 with most of the quantities done absorbed by large parcels at a price of Rs.17.50.

Asian Hotel Properties closed Rs.3.50 up at Rs.81 on 0.1 million shares traded between Rs.76.10 and Rs.81 contributing Rs.7.8 million to turnover. Analysts noted that this counter had attracted interest the previous day too.

Ceylon Theatres closed 10 cents down at Rs.130.30 with 58,056 shares done between Rs.130.30 and Rs.132 generating Rs.7.6 million turnover.

Other counters on the most traded list included Ceylon Tobacco closing flat at Rs.710 on 9,219 shares, NTB down 50 cents to Rs.56 on 0.1 million shares, Overseas Realty closed flat at Rs.14 on nearly 0.4 million shares and Commercial Bank (voting) down Rs.2.10 to Rs.102.80 on 36,080 shares while the non-voting counter lost 90 cents to close at Rs.90.60 on 34,441 shares.

source - www.island.lk