Sri Lanka shares close up 0.6-pct

Apr 04, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's shares close up 0.60 percent higher Friday with tobacco and telco stocks gaining amid strong foreign selling on diversified stocks, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 36.08 points higher at 6,054.55 up 0.60 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 27.60 points higher at 3,323.10, up 0.84 percent.

Turnover was 5.04 billion rupees, up from 2.57 billion rupees a day earlier with 86 stocks close positive against 72 negative.

John Keells Holdings closed flat at 232.70 rupees with market transactions of 4.41 billion rupees contributing to 87 percent of the daily turnover.

JKHâ€™s W0022 warrants closed 80 cents higher at 68.80 rupees and its W0023 warrants closed 1.30 rupees higher at 72.30 rupees.

All off market transactions accounted for only four percent of the daily turnover.

Foreign investors bought 387.52 million rupees worth shares while selling 4.47 billion rupees worth shares.

PCH Holdings closed flat at 70 cents and Blue Diamonds also closed flat at 3.60 rupees, attracting most number of trades during the day.

Ceylon Tobacco Company closed 25.90 rupees higher at 1,075.00 rupees and Sri Lanka Telecom closed 1.30 rupees higher at 49.10 rupees, contributing most to the index gain.

Commercial Bank closed 2.90 rupees higher at 125.00 rupees and DFCC Bank closed 3.40 rupees higher at 149.70 rupees.

Cargills Ceylon closed 5.30 rupees higher at 142.00 rupees and Nestle Lanka closed 4.70 rupees higher at 1,999.90 rupees.

Bukit Darah closed 50 cents higher at 570.50 rupees and Distilleries closed 40 cents lower at 202.10 rupees.