Market continued its lackluster ways in today’s trading although turnover levels have improved on the back of increased foreign buying. Most Blue-chips were slightly lower in today’s trading with Carson Cumberbatch, Bukit Dara, John Keells Holdings and CTC showing selling pressure. ASI was down 7.41 points (0.15%) to close at 4,874.36, MPI lost 4.07 points (0.09%) to close at 4,281.82 and the S&P index lost 0.98 points (0.04%) to close at 2,760.92.
Turnover was Rs. 520 million. Most active counters for the day were Laugfs Gas non-voting, HVA Foods and. Top contributors to turnover were Commercial Bank non-voting with Rs. 100 million, Dankotuwa Porcelain with Rs. 54 million and Distilleries with Rs. 48 million. Notable gainers for the day were Ascot Holdings up by 7.12% to close at Rs. 200, Free Lanka Capital holdings up by 5.56% to close at Rs. 1.90 and Coco Lanka non-voting up by 3.63% to close at Rs. 34.30. Notable losers for the day were Laugfs Gas voting down by 4% to close at Rs. 19.30, Nawaloka Hospitals down by 3.45% to close at Rs. 2.80 and Swarnamahal Financial Services down by 3.13% to close at Rs. 6.20. Foreign participation was 38% of total market turnover and net foreign buying was Rs. 251.4 million.
http://www.nation.lk/edition/biz-news/item/8604-market-continued-its-lackluster-ways.html