Sri Lankan stocks close down 0.80-pct

Oct 04, 2010 (LBO) - Sri Lankan shares closed down on Monday, pulled down by falls in index heavy stocks, while big stakes of Hatton National Bank (HNB) changed hands in private deals pushing turnover over 12 billion rupees, brokers said. John Keells Holdings, an index heavy conglomerate closed at 349.00 rupees, down 5.50.

The All Share Price Index closed at 7,089.69, down 0.80 percent (58.08 points), while the more liquid Milanka index fell 0.53 percent (41.47) to close at 7,787.58, according to stock exchange provisional figures.

Turnover was 12.5 billion rupees.

In a privately negotiated off-the-floor deal, 19.55 million shares of HNB changed hands at 400.00 rupees a share. It closed at 415.00 rupees, up 4.70.

The HNB deals, most of which were done through Capital Trust Securities, contributed 7.8 billion rupees to the day's turnover, brokers said.

They said the shares were sold by CBD Exports and Brown & Company.

According to HNB's annual report, as at December 31, 2009, CDB Exports had a 6.53 percent stake of HNB and Brown & Company 5.36 percent.

High-net-worth investor Sohli Captain was reported to have bought 5.5 percent of the HNB shares sold Monday.

Another one percent was bought by Jupiter Fund of Europe.