Colombo bourse closed higher.

Market started positively but fluctuated and closed on a mixed note later in the day. Healthy gain in Aitken Spence Plc (SPEN) helped ASI to close 26.45 points higher at 5884.00 while Milanka lost 1.74 points to end the day at 6034.28.

Today's market turnover was boosted by SPEN by trading more than one million shares. SPEN closed at Rs 2745.30, up 249.50. SPEN has contributed Rs 2.80 billion for today's total turnover of Rs 5.89 billion. John Keells Hotels Plc (KHL) was the 2nd largest contributor with Rs 838.74 million. More than 39 million shares of KHL traded during the day and closed 30 cents higher at Rs 21.70 while Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka contributed 362 million rupees towards total equity turnover and closed one rupee higher at Rs 153.00.

The Bukit Darah Plc was the biggest loser with loss of  Rs 499.90 to close at Rs 7400.10. Hotel Sigiriya lost 4.10 to close at Rs 90.00. I have been collecting Hotel Sigiriya from Rs 60 levels and still think it is worth to buy. KHL is also attractive stock in hotel sector but looks like heavily over valued on current earnings.

According to a letter sent to CSE, Lanka Walltile Plc has decided to close their Balangoda factory. Today foreigners were net sellers with huge margin. They sold stocks valued Rs  2.77 billion and purchased Rs 189 million worth of stocks.

Colombo Milanka Stock index crossed 6000 point mark!

At the end of the trading week Milanka index which represents most liquid 25 stocks of the Colombo Stock Exchange crossed the 6000 point barrier. It is likely to ASI too will follow the same in near term.

CSE All Share index gained 246.34 points to close the week at 5880.49 while Milanka index recorded increase of 169.7 points to end the week at 6066.81. The turnover for the week amounted to 14.79 billion rupees compared to 8.28 billion rupees which was reported for the previous week. There was 4.1 billion turnover for the Friday alone.

Total market capitalization at the end of the week was 1.93 trillion rupees compared to last week figure of 1.85 trillion rupees. Market Price Earning Ratio increased to 24.56 from 23.69 last week.

In Banks Finance and Insurance sector, Central Finance Plc was up by 140.20 for the week to close at Rs 724.00 while LB Finance closed at Rs 188.80, up 35.60. AVIVA NDB Insurance Plc gained 33.30 for the week to close at Rs 293.30.

In Beverage Food and Tobacco sector, Ceylon Tobacco Plc was up by fifty five rupees to end the week at Rs 390.00 while Ceylon Cold Stores Plc closed at five hundred rupees, up fifty rupees. Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka Plc gained 12.20 to close at Rs 152.20.

From Diversified Holdings sector, Carsons Cumberbatch Plc was up by 44 rupees to close at Rs 807.40 while Richard Pieris Company Plc closed at Rs 144.70, up 24.70. John Keells Holdings closed at Rs 260.00, up 6.20.

The Bukit Darah Plc which is from oil palm sector, was up by 442.50 to close at Rs 7900.00.

Foreigners continued to be net sellers with Rs 1.26 billion rupees purchases and 1.60 billion in sales. Brokers expect to continue this trend in the coming week too.

CSE 1.67 pct with 3 Billion plus turnover.

Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has completed another positive trading day with huge gains. Sri Lanka's only wire line telecom operator, Sri Lanka Telecom Plc (SLTL) was the main contributor for todays gains. Index heavy SLTL was up by 3.49 to close at Rs 45.00.  Carsons Group too contributed significantly. Carsons Cumberbatch Plc was up by 42.60 to close at Rs 814.30 while The Good Hope Plc closed at Rs 682.50, up 32.50.

Colombo's main stock index ASI closed 94.88 points higher at 5785.17 while Milanka Index gained 52.20 to close at 5961.52. Turnover was amounted to 3.36 billion rupees.

Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings Plc was up by 26.70 to close at Rs 644.50 while Hotel Sigiriya closed at Rs 88.50, up 7.10. Lanka Orix Leasing Company Plc gained 11.10 to end the day at Rs 919.40. Richard Peiris and Company Plc was up by 11.90 to close at Rs 131.70. Sampath Bank, the first local bank who introduced Automated Teller Machines to Sri Lankans closed 8.10 higher at Rs 378.00.

Asiri Central Hospitals Plc lost 8.60 to close at Rs 135.50 while LB Finance Plc was down by 3.80 to close at Rs 190.30. There were 125 gainers and 59 losers for the day.

Selected stocks pushed CSE indices further up!

Sharp gains in index heavy Ceylon Tobacco Plc helped to ASI record further gains. Ceylon Tobacco was up by thirty rupees to close at Rs 380.00 while Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings Plc gained 21.70 to close at Rs 617.80.

The benchmark Colombo All Share Index (ASI) was up by 32.28 points to close at 5690.29 while MPI which is representing 25 highly liquid stocks closed at 5909.32, up 20.16 points. Total equity turnover was amounted to 2.78 billion rupees.

In Banks Finance & Insurance sector, LB Finance Plc was up by 17.60 to close at Rs 194.10 while National Development Bank closed at Rs 277.20, up 11.60. AVIV NDB Insurance gained ten rupees to close at Rs 295.00.

Carsons Cumberbatch Plc was down by 24.20 to close at Rs 771.70 while Lanka Orix Leasing Company Plc (LOLC) lost 7.10 to close at Rs 908.30. Asiri Central Hospitals Plc lost 14.90 to end the day at Rs 159.00. Samson International closed at Rs 92.00, down 7.90.

Foreign investors were net sellers today with Rs 176.99 millions in purchases and Rs 240.68 millions in sales.

Richard Peiris and Company Plc today announced that their subsidiary Richard Peiris Securities (Pvt) Ltd has received a stock broking license from Securities Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) to carry on stock broking business.

Sri Lanka Stocks closed marginally lower.

CSE trading started with positive trend for the week but lost the momentum later in the day and closed lower. Index heavy weighted stocks fell sharply including Carsons Group. ASI lost  33.38 points to close at 5600.77 while MPI lost 35.24 points to close at 5861.87.  Total equity turnover stood at 1.74 billion rupees.

The Bukit Darah Plc lost 507.50 to close at Rs 6950.00 while Carsons Cumberbatch Plc fell 39.80 to close at Rs 723.60. Aitken Spence Plc was down by 44.20 to end the day at Rs 2544.30. Environmental Resources Investments Plc closed at  Rs 93.50, down 2.70.

There were 87 positive contributors & 95 negative contributors for the day. Central Finance Plc one of oldest Finance Company in Sri Lanka was up by 58.30 to close at Rs 642.10. Lanka Orix Leasing Company gained 13.90 to close at Rs 962.20. LB Finance closed at Rs 165.40, up 12.20. Elpitya Plantations Plc announced a sub division of shares and closed 3.80 higher at Rs 42.10.

Foreigners were net buyers with Rs 119.45 million purchases and Rs 104.59 in sales. There will be a consolidation or minor correction during this week.