Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.1-pct

Apr 17, 2015 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stocks closed up, 0.13 per cent, mainly because of profit taking and the banking and apparel stocks trading actively, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 9.14 points higher at 7,086.41 up 0.13 per cent. The S&P SL20 closed 21.46 points higher at 4,012.56 up 0.54 per cent. “While there was profit taking by investors, there was active participation in the apparel manufactures stock counters due to an anticipation of the GSP+ trade benefit being granted soon,” Lanka Securities said. Turnover was 717 million rupees down from 1.17 billion rupees, Thursday with 99 stocks closing positive against 69 negative. Foreign investors bought 297.28 million rupees worth shares while selling 328.93 million rupees worth shares. Textured Jersey Lanka closed at 25.50 rupees, up 0.30 rupees and Hayley’s MGT Knitting Mills closed at 9.20 rupees up 0.80 rupees. In banking stocks, Hatton National Bank closed at 229.70 rupees, up 4.70 rupees. Commercial Bank closed at 171.00 rupees, up 0.70 rupees while DFCC closed at 210.20 rupees, up 0.20 rupees. Access Engineering was another heavily traded stock with over 3 million shares changing hands and the stock closing at 24.00 rupees, up 1.50 rupees. Distilleries Company closed at 240.80 up 0.80 rupees. Dialog Axiata closed at 11.70 rupees up, 0.10 rupees and John Keells Holdings closed flat at 209.00 rupees.