Sri Lanka stock close up 0.2-pct

Dec 11, 2012 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stocks closed up 0.2 percent Tuesday, helped by gains in Nestle and CTC while forex markets saw import demand later in the day, brokers and dealers said. NDB Capital Holdings closed at 460.00 down 39.80 rupees, Hunters fell 44.90 to close at 294.50, Kelani Valley Plantations fell 7.80 to close 78.20 and Sigiriya Village fell 4.0 rupees to close at 66.00 rupees.

Hatton National Bank closed at 141.00 rupees unchanged, Commercial Bank closed at 100.00 down 50 cents and John Keells Holdings closed at 211.80 up 80 cents.

The Colombo All Share Price Index closed at 5,417.78, up 12.92 points and the S&P SL20 Index closed at 2,962.72 up 4.61 (0.16 percent).

In forex markets the rupee opened wide quoted around 138.70/129.00 against the spot US dollar, dealers. In late trading the rupee weakened to around 128.85/95 levels.

In equity markets Nestle Lanka closed at 1,504.70 up 21.70 rupees, Ceylon Tobacco closed at 759.70 up 9.90 rupees, Lion Brewery closed at 273 up 13.00 rupees contributing most to the index, according to Colombo Stock Exchange data.

Malwatte Valley Plantations saw 1.2 million rupees traded, closing at 4.60 rupees up 10 cents.