Sri Lanka stocks close up 1.0-pct

July 08, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stocks closed up 1.03 percent pushing the index to a four-month high with the favorable economic outlook boosting foreign investor sentiment, brokers said. Lion Brewery Ceylon closed 31.50 rupees higher at 524.90 rupees and Ceylon Beverage Holdings closed 14.60 rupees lower at 550.00 rupees.

The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 66.81 points higher at 6,565.81, up 1.03 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 58.22 points higher at 3,676.11, up 1.61 percent.

Turnover was 1.74 billion rupees, up from 1.35 billion rupees a day earlier with 96 stocks closed positive against 80 negative.

Distilleries closed 30 cents higher at 205.40 rupees with two off-market transactions of 219.76 million rupees changing hands at 205.00 rupees per share contributing 13 percent of the daily turnover.

The aggregate value of all off-the-floor deals represented 29 percent of the turnover.

PCH Holdings closed flat at 3.60 rupees and PC Pharma closed 30 cents lower at 2.50 rupees, attracting most number of trades during the day.

Foreign investors bought 483.89 million rupees worth shares while selling 193.65 million rupees worth shares.

Nestle Lanka closed 122.50 rupees higher at 2,095.00 rupees and John Keells Holdings closed 7.50 rupees higher at 234.60 rupees, contributing most to the index gain.

JKHâ€™s W0022 warrants closed 1.80 rupees higher at 64.80 rupees and its W0023 warrants closed 2.20 rupees higher at 75.40 rupees.

HNB closed 4.00 rupees higher at 170.00 rupees and Lanka Orix Finance closed 10 cents lower at 3.70 rupees.