Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.4-pct

Oct 30, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stocks closed 0.39 percent higher with index heavy John Keells Holdings gaining amid continued foreign buying, brokers said. John Keells Holdings closed 5.20 rupees higher at 255.00 rupees, contributing most to the index gain.

JKHâ€™s W0022 warrants closed 60 cents higher at 74.50 rupees and its W0023 warrants closed 3.00 rupees higher at 80.00 rupees.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon closed 1.80 rupees higher at 162.00 rupees.

The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 28.51 points higher at 7,294.41, up 0.39 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 21.99 points higher at 4,051.42, up 0.55 percent.

Turnover was 2.20 billion rupees with 95 stocks closed positive against 103 negative.

Peopleâ€™s Leasing and Finance closed 40 cents higher at 21.70 rupees with four off market transactions of 376.25 million rupees changing hands at 21.50 rupees per share contributing 17 percent of the turnover.

Dialog Axiata closed 10 cents higher at 12.50 rupees with two off market transactions of 144.88 million rupees changing hands at 12.50 rupees per share contributing 7 percent of the turnover.

The aggregate value of all off-the-floor deals represented 34 percent of the daily turnover.

Vallibel Power Erathna closed 60 cents higher at 7.70 rupees, attracting most number of trades during the day.

Foreign investors bought 971.65 billion rupees worth shares while selling 210.61 million rupees worth shares.