The CSE yesterday kicked off on a positive note but later turned negative due to profit- takings engrossing investors.
Amid those developments both indices moved downwards. The All Share Price Index went down by 90.46 points, while the S and P SL20 declined by 27.74 points.
Turnover stood at Rs 4.8 billion with nine crossings. Top seven crossings were: Dipped Products 1.3 million shares crossed for Rs 91.2 million; its shares traded at Rs 72.50, HNB 193,000 shares crossed for Rs 79 million; its shares traded at Rs 411, DFCC 500,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 73 million; its shares traded at Rs 145, Hemas 2 million shares crossed for Rs 56 million and its shares traded at Rs 145, Singer Sri Lanka 500,000 shares crossed for Rs 40 million; its shares fetched Rs 80, Lanka IOC 276,000 shares crossed for Rs 75 million; its shares sold at Rs 128 and Chevron Lubricant 100,000 shares crossed for Rs 21 million; its shares sold at Rs 210.
In the retail market top companies that mainly contributed to the turnover: Dipped Products Rs 522 million (7.5 million shares traded) Asiri Surgical Rs 447 million (37 million shares traded), DFCC Rs 340 million (2.4 million shares traded), Commercial Bank Rs 244 million (1.1 million shares traded), Sampath Bank Rs 141 million (844,000 shares traded), Dialog Rs 111 million (2.2 million shares traded) and Tokyo Cement (Non-Voting) Rs 87 million (1.3 million shares traded). During the day 172 million share volumes changed hands in 32289 transactions.
It is said that banking sector counters, especially Sampath Bank and Commercial Bank, performed well while in the manufacturing sector, especially Dipped Products, performed well.
Yesterday the rupee was quoted at 332.33/38 to the US dollar spot from Rs 332.33/40 the previous day, while bond yields continued the downward momentum, dealers said.
Source: The Island