Sri Lanka stocks close up at 0.15-pct

May 19, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed up at 0.15 percent with gains seen in some of the banking and conglomerate stocks, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 11.18 points higher at 7,266.20 up 0.15 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 9.15 points higher at 4,046.83 up 0.24 percent. Turnover was 1.6 billion rupees up from 1.1 billion rupees on Monday, with 90 stocks closing positive against 85 negative. “Some banking sector and high cap stocks showed gains,” Lanka Securities said. “11 crossing were seen during the day’s trading in four stock counters.” The top contributors were Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings closing at 83.20 rupees, up 4.20 rupees and Ceylon Tea Services closing at 785.90 rupees, up 65.90 rupees. In the banking sector, Seylan Bank closed at 111.00 rupees, up 4.10 rupees with five off market transactions of over 2.2 million shares recorded at 108.00 rupees. Hatton National Bank closed at 232.80 rupees, up 2.70 rupees and Commercial Bank closed at 169.00 rupees, up 0.50 rupees. DFCC closed at 213.20 rupees, down 2.80 rupees and National Development Bank closed at 270.00 rupees, up 4.00 rupees. Distilleries Company closed at 292.00 rupees, up 2.00 rupees with a four off market transactions of over 585,000 shares traded at 292.00 rupees. John Keells Holdings closed at 201.50 rupees, up 0.50 rupees with an off market deal of over 199,000 shares at 201.50 rupees.