Sri Lanka shares close up 0.5-pct

May 16, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stocks closed 0.48 percent higher with strong foreign buying amid Indian stock market moved up more than six percent to a record high on Friday, brokers said. Ceylon Tobacco Company closed 17.70 rupees higher at 1,089.50 rupees and Sri Lanka Telecom closed 1.40 rupees higher at 48.00 rupees, contributing most to the index gain by reversing their previous losses even though few shares traded in the exchange.

John Keells Hotels closed 1.00 rupee higher at 15.00 rupees and Trans Asia Hotels closed 4.70 rupees higher at 94.70 rupees.

Bukit Darah closed 80 cents higher at 669.90 rupees and Ceylinco Insurance closed 18.10 rupees higher at 500.00 rupees.

HNB closed 3.00 rupees lower at 155.00 rupees and Union Bank closed 20 cents lower at 20.40 rupees.

Carson Cumberbatch closed 1.80 rupees lower at 400.10 rupees and Distilleries closed 90 cents lower at 205.10 rupees.

Chevron Lubricants Lanka closed 2.20 rupees lower at 272.10 rupees.

The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 30.23 points higher at 6,315.19 up 0.48 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 0.18 points higher at 3,479.17, up 0.01 percent.

Turnover was 1.61 billion rupees, up from 757.85 million rupees last Tuesday with 109 stocks closed positive against 75 negative.

John Keells Holdings closed 50 cents higher at 235.00 rupees with nine off market transactions of 832.67 million rupees contributing 52 percent of the daily turnover.

JKH’s W0022 warrants closed 50 cents lower at 63.00 rupees and its W0023 warrants closed 30 cents higher at 69.80 rupees.

Nestle Lanka closed 41.30 rupees higher at 1,988.80 rupees with an off market transaction of 171.14 million rupees contributing 11 percent of the turnover.

Tokyo Cement closed 90 cents higher at 41.20 rupees, attracting most number of trades during the day.

Foreign investors bought 1.20 billion rupees worth shares while selling 254.41 million rupees worth shares.