Sri Lanka shares close down 0.3-pct

July 17, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's shares closed 0.31 percent lower on Thursday despite net foreign buying, brokers said. E-Channelling closed 1.10 rupees higher at 16.80 rupees, attracting most number of trades during the day.

Foreign investors bought 189.13 million rupees worth shares while selling 26.49 million rupees worth shares.

Sri Lanka Telecom closed 1.20 rupees lower at 55.00 rupees, contributing most to the index drop.

Lion Brewery Ceylon closed 13.90 rupees lower at 659.90 rupees and Distilleries closed 1.10 rupees higher at 204.90 rupees.

Ceylon Tobacco Company closed 2.50 rupees higher at 1,102.50 rupees and Hemas Holdings closed 70 cents higher at 48.90 rupees and.

The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 20.69 points lower at 6,721.87, down 0.31 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 13.58 points lower at 3,747.47, down 0.36 percent.

Turnover was 926.45 million rupees, down from 1.21 billion rupees a day earlier with 75 stocks closed positive against 124 negative.

John Keells Holdings closed 10 cents higher at 245.00 rupees with market transactions of 279.10 million rupees contributing 30 percent of the turnover.

JKHâ€™s W0022 warrants closed 1.20 rupees higher at 65.90 rupees and its W0023 warrants closed 40 cents lower at 73.70 rupees.

HNB closed 1.30 rupees lower at 169.10 rupees with an off-market transaction of 21.93 million rupees changing hands at 173.00 rupees per share contributing 2 percent of the turnover.