Stock market regained ground on Tuesday with the ASI recovering 0.21% (up by 12.63 points). S&P SL 20 Index gained marginally by 1.78 points (+0.05%). Lanka IOC was among the mostly traded stocks after Textured Jersey and Access Engineering. Market turnover was LKR 403mn. John Keells Holdings with LKR 100mn, Access Engineering with LKR 63mn and Lion Brewery with LKR 31mn were the top contributors to the daily turnover. Foreign participation accounted for 25% of the total market activity and foreign investors were net sellers of LKR 72mn.
Colombo shares further gained and closed with positive returns on Wednesday supported by price appreciations in primary blue chip stocks such as Nestle, Ceylon Tobacco and Carson Cumberbatch. All share price index gained 65.80 points (+1.07%) and S&P SL 20 index increased by 30.87 points (+0.89%) Market turnover was LKR 1.9bn. Almost 81% of the daily turnover was contributed by off-the-floor deals. Hatton National Bank non-voting with LKR 704mn, Aitken Spence with LKR 369mn and Sampath bank with LKR 356mn emerged as top contributors to the market turnover. PC House, Textured Jersey and Expo Lanka were heavily traded stocks for the day. Foreign investors were net buyers with LKR 858mn whilst foreign participation was 57%.
Colombo stocks advanced further on Thursday with the backed by price appreciations in large cap stocks. ASI advanced by 11.43 points (0.18%) and S&P SL 20 Index advanced by 11.59 points (0.33%). Market turnover was LKR 647mn. Top contributors to the turnover were Hatton National Bank with LKR 156mn followed by Sampath Bank with LKR 64mn and John Keells Holdings with LKR 56mn. PC House, Nation Lanka Finance and Ceylon Tobacco were the heavily traded stocks for the day. Foreign participation accounted for 37% of the total market activity whilst foreign investors were net buyers of LKR 103mn.
On Friday market wrapped up the weekly operations with mixed results as number of blue-chip shares moved in opposite directions. ASI gained 13.11 points (0.21%) to end at 6,233.21 while S&P SL 20 Index declined marginally by 4.14 points (-0.12%) and ended at 3,491.55. Price appreciations in brewery stocks such as Lion Brewery by 4.9% and Ceylon Brewery by 5.8% contributed positively to the ASI performances while price depreciations in heavy cap stocks such as John Keells Holdings by 1.1%, Ceylon Tobacco by 1.7%, Dialog by 1.2%, National Development Bank by 2.1% and Carsons by 3.0% contributed negatively to the S&P index performances.
Daily market turnover was LKR 596mn. John Keells Holdings recorded the highest turnover of LKR 204mn followed by Nestle Lanka with LKR 106mn and Vallibel One with LKR 36mn.
Crossings were recorded in John Keells Holdings (0.5mn shares at LKR 255.00 per share), Nestle Lanka (41,800 shares at LKR 2,500.00 per share), Textured Jersey (2.0mn shares at LKR 13.50 per share) and Vallibel One (2.0mn shares at LKR 17.30 per share) .The total value of the crossings accounted for 49% of the market turnover.
Tokyo Cement (voting & non-voting), Expo Lanka and Nation Lanka Finance were among the mostly traded stocks during the day.
Foreign participation for the day was 29% and foreign investors were net buyers with a net inflow of LKR 31mn. Cash map closed at 80%.
Based on the results released by 208 companies which represent 90% of the market cap, the earnings for the Apr-Jun 2013 quarter has increased by 6.4%. Quarterly earnings of large index weighted sectors banking and diversified holdings increased by 1% YoY and 21%YoY respectively while earnings of F&B sector which accounted for 22% of the market cap, increased by 6%YoY.
During the week ASI advanced by 1.3% and consequently market cap increased by LKR 200bn. Accordingly market PE (adjusted for latest earnings) increased to 12.6x from 11.8x in last Friday. Year-to-date net foreign inflow to the equity market is LKR 16.1bn and as per today foreign investment holding accounts for 39% of the total market cap.